PRINCETON,    N.    J. 


le^Jen/m  /y    /%t         j^^u,^  uur 


BX    8958    .R44    H5    1889 

History  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Shelf.....      Redstone 


Rev.    Ashbel    O.    Fairchild,    D.    D. 

Bee  Appendix. 


HISTORY 


OF    THE 


Presbytery  of  Redstone 


ORGANIZED  BY 


I'he  gynod  of  ]\[eW  yorl^  and  Philadelphia,  gspt.  IQ, 
IJSl,  and  ifnder  its  care  till  VJBS ; 


A    PART    OF 


THE  SYNOD  OF  VIRGINIA,  1788-1802  ; 


OF 


The  Synod  of  Pittsburg,  1802— 1881 ; 


AND  NOW  OF 


THE  SYNOD  OF  PENNSYLVANIA,  1881—1889. 

1889. 


Washington,  Pa.: 

Observer  Book  and  Job  Print, 

1889. 


PREFACE. 

In  obedience  to  a  resolution  of  the  General  Assembly  of 
1886,  that  "Presbyteries  be  requested  to  send  two  copies  of  their 
histories  to  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  Assembly  and  to  the 
Presbyterian  Historical  Society,  respectively,"  the  Presbytery  of 
Redstone  appointed  the  undersigned  a  committee  to  prepare  a 
history  and  transmit  the  same  to  the  parties  named.  In  the  per- 
formance of  this  duty  the  committee  prepared  and  forwarded  the 
history  of  the  Presbytery  to  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Genera! 
Assembly,  and  also  to  the  Historian  of  the  Synod  of  V^irginia. 
In  preparing  the  history  they  did  not  hesitate  to  draw  largely 
from  all  reliable  sources  within  their  reach.  It  was  read  before 
the  Presbytery  in  the  fall  of  1887  and  approved,  and  the  Presby- 
tery directed  that  the  history  and  the  accompanying  histories  of 
the  several  churches  secured  by  the  committee,  be  published  in 
permanent  form  if  satisfactory  arrangements  could  be  made. 

These  arrangements  having  been  completed,  the  committee 
have  issued  this  volume.  A  history  of  woman's  work  in  the 
Presbytery,  a  list  of  candidates,  licentiates  and  ministers,  and  the 
dates  of  their  connection  with  the  Presbytery  as  far  as  could  be 
ascertained,  and  a  few  personal  sketches  in  connection  with  the 
phototypes,  are  added. 

The  committee  cannot  forbear  expressing  regret  that  this 
little  book  gives  such  an  inadequate  view  of  the  pioneer  work  of 
this  earliest  of  the  Presbyteries  west  of  the  Alleghenies.     They 


IV  PRESBVTERY    OF    REDSTONE.       • 

became  more  and  more  impressed  with  its  defects  as  the  prepara- 
tion of  it  was  drawing  to  a  close.  But  the  imperative  demands 
of  other  duties  forbade  the  research  necessary  to  gather  addi- 
tional materials  and  properly  sift  and  arrange  them,  or  even  to 
re-arrange  what  were  already  in  their  possession.  They  send  it 
out  hoping  that  in  some  small  measure  it  may  preserve  facts  and 
give  a  better  understanding  of  the  faithful,  self-sacrificing  and 
consecrated  labors  of  the  Fathers,  and  strengthen  the  faith  and 
increase  the  consecration  of  those  who  are  building  on  these 
foundations  laid  so  deep  and  broad  by  the  laborers  who  rest  from 
their  labors  and  "their  works  do  follow  them." 

JOHN  M.  BARNETT, 
JOHN  C.  MELOY, 
EBENEZER  FINLEY, 

Committee. 


HISTORY 

OF  THE 

PRESBYTERY  OF  REDSTONE. 


ORIGIN    OF    NAME. 

Redstone  Presbytery  is  said  to  have  taken  its  name  from  the 
rocks  in  the  banks  of  Redstone  Creek,  one  mile  below  Browns- 
ville, Pa.  It  is  supposed  that  a  vein  of  coal  in  that  locality  was 
set  on  fire  at  an  early  day,  either  by  the  Indians  or  by  friction 
caused  by  a  land  slide.  In  course  of  time  the  fire  died  out  leav- 
ing the  banks  reddened  by  its  heat.  They  present  a  very  pecul- 
iar appearance  and  are  quite  an  object  of  interest  to  any  one 
fond  of  natural  curiosities. 

BOUNDARIES    AND    EARLY    SETTLEMENT. 

The  Presbytery  originally  was  practically  bounded  on  the 
east  by  the  Allegheny  mountains,  on  the  north  by  Lake  Erie,  on 
the  south  by  Virginia  and  on  the  west  by  the  setting  sun.  It 
embraced  what  was  called  the  "Great  West,"  the  vastly  larger 
part  of  which  was  at  that  time  a  "terra  incognita." 

The  Synod  in  passing  the  order  for  the  new  organization  as- 
signed no  geographical  limits,  and  named  no  churches  save  only 
Laurel  Hill  and  tlie  four  Ministers  west  of  the  Allegheny  Moun- 
tains, one  of  whom  was  in  Westmoreland  county  and  the  other 
three  in  Washington  county,  which  was  organized  as  a  count)' 
shortly  after  the  act  was  passed. 

Previous  to  its  organization  the  first  parts  of  the  country 
settled,  were  portions  of  what  is  now  embraced  in  the  counties  of 
Washington,  Fayette,  Westmoreland  and  Allegheny,  together 
with  the  regions  along  the   Monongahela   and    Ohio    rivers  and 


2  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

their  branches  and  later  along  the  Allegheny  to  the  shores  of 
Lake  Erie  and  westward  to  the  Muskingum,  Sciota  and  Cuyaho- 
ga rivers.  The  first  settlers  were  of  Scotch-Irish  descent,  who 
had  come  from  the  east  taking  up  lands,  clearing  out  farms  and 
building  log  houses  until  such  times  as  they  were  able  to  pro- 
cure more  comfortable  homes.  They  were  a  sturdy  people,  with 
the  same  kind  of  blood  in  their  veins  which  had  flowed  at  the 
Battle  of  the  Boyne  in  the  days  of  William  the  Third.  They 
brought  with  them  the  Assembly's  Catechism,  the  Confession  of 
Faith  and  their  Bibles;  and  withal  a  good  degree  of  religious 
faith,  intelligence  and  fervor.  There  w^as  a  population  here  very 
early  in  the  last  century.  In  the  year  1738  "John  Caldwell  in 
behalf  of  himself  and  many  families  of  our  persuasion  who  were 
about  to  settle  in  the  back  parts  of  Virginia,  induced  the  Synod 
of  Philadelphia  to  appeal  to  Governor  Brooch,  of  Virginia,  for 
countenance  and  protection  in  their  proposed  settlement."  "The 
request  was  granted  and  they  went  to  settle  on  the  western  side 
of  our  great  mountain."  Smollet,  in  his  history  of  England, 
says  that  in  1760  there  were  4,000  settlers  in  this  region. 

EARLY    MISSION.\RY    EFFORTS. 

Rev.  Chas.  Beatty,  the  grandfather  of  the  late  Rev.  C.  C. 
Beatty,  D.  D.,  is  said  to  have  preached  the  first  protestant  ser- 
mon in  this  part  of  the  country.  It  was  a  Thanksgiving  sermon 
and  was  preached  on  the  25th  of  November,  1758,  at  Fort  Du- 
quesne,  which  had  just  been  evacuated  by  the  French.  Two 
years  later  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Alexander  and  Hector  Allison  were 
sent  by  the  direction  of  the  Synod  of  Philadelphia  to  go  with  the 
Pennsylvania  forces  to  explore  the  country  and  see  what  might 
be  done  in  the  way  of  missionary  efforts.  In  the  3'ear  1766, 
Revs.  Chas.  Beatty  and  George  Dufifield  were  sent  by  the  Synod 
on  a  similar  errand  "to  explore  the  frontier  .settlements  and  to  a.s- 
certain  the  condition  of  the  Indians."  They  preached  a  number 
of  times  going  as  far  west  as  the  Muskingum  river.  Soon  after 
this  the  Rev.  Mr.  Anderson  was  .sent  by  the  Synod  to  visit  this 
region  with  a  promise  of  "20  shillings"  for  every  Sabbath  he 
.should   preach  on   the  other  side  of  the  Kittochtinny  mountains. 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  3 

In  the  year  1769,  the  Presbytery  of  Donegal,  by  the  direction  of 
Synod,  supplied  the  western  frontier  with  ten  Sabbaths'  preach- 
ing— but  just  where  their  labors  were  performed  we  do  not  know. 
It  is  probable  that  the)'  preached  in  the  bounds  of  some  of  the 
old  Centennial  Churclies  which  are  still  vigorous  congregations 
within  the  bounds  of  Redstone  Presbytery. 

EARLY    MINISTERS. 

In  the  year  1771,  the  Rev.  James  Finley  came  to  this  wes- 
tern frontier  and  did  some  excellent  missionary  work.  He  was  a 
native  of  Ireland,  forty  years  of  age,  a  fat,  florid,  nervous  little 
man,  very  hardy  and  ready  for  any  labor,  having  already  an  ex- 
perience of  nineteen  years  in  the  ministry.  He  had  been  in  the 
country  in  1765,  again  in  '67,  doing  some  secular  work  in  the 
Dunlap's  Creek  region — but  he  returned  again  by  direction  of 
Synod  and  supplied  in  Ligonier  or  that  region  for  two  months  in 
'71  and  '72.  He  also  labored  for  some  time  in  that  part  of  the 
country  called  "The  Forks  of  Yough,"  organizing,  it  is  said,  on 
the  same  day,  in  the  year  1778,  the  Churches  of  Rehoboth  and 
Round  Hill.  He  brought  his  family  west  in  1783,  and  two  years 
later  became  pastor  of  the  two  churches  just  mentioned,  continu- 
ing in  that  relation  till  the  time  of  his  death,  Januar}^  6,  1795. 

Rev.  James  Power,  D.  D.,  was  the  first  minister  who  came 
to  stay  and  grow  up  with  the  country.  He  was  a  tall,  graceful, 
genteel  young  man,  clear,  methodical  and  evangelical  as  a 
preacher,  in  the  29th  year  of  his  age,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania 
and  a  graduate  of  Princeton.  He  came  in  1774,  as  a  licentiate, 
was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  "sine  titulo,"  in 
1776,  and  sent  back  "to  the  western  parts  of  this  Province."  He 
proved  to  be  a  most  effective  missionary,  organizing  in  1774, 
while  he  was  yet  a  licentiate,  so  it  is  claimed,  the  Dunlap's  Creek 
Presbyterian  church — the  oldest  organization  west  of  the  inonri- 
tains.  The  authority  for  this  is  a  statement  said  to  have  been 
made  by  Mr.  Power  himself  While  we  are  not  disposed  to  dis- 
pute the  correctness  of  the  claim,  we  are  inclined  to  think  there 
must  have  been  some  ordained  minister  present  to  set  apart  the 
Elders  to  their  work  in  the   church.     Dr.   Power  also  organized 


4  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

the  Sewickley  Church  in  1776,  and  soon  after,  it  is  beheved,  he 
organized  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Church  at  its  present  location,  two 
miles  north  of  the  present  town  of  Mount  Pleasant.  He  was 
pastor  of  the  two  churches  named  until  1787,  when  he  Avas  re- 
leased from  Sewickley,  serving  the  other  church  until  the  year 
1 817,  when  on  account  of  infirmity  he  gave  up  his  charge.  He 
died  in  1830. 

Rev.  John  McMillan,  D.  D.,  was  the  second  man  to  stay 
upon  the  ground.  He  was  born  at  Fagg's  Manor  in  1752,  grad- 
uated at  Princeton  in  1772,  and  was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery 
of  New  Castle  in  1774,  at  the  age  of  twenty -two.  He  first  visit- 
ed this  region  in  1775,  staying  but  a  short  time.  It  is  said  that 
during  this  visit  he  organized  the  churches  of  Pigeon  Creek  and 
Chartiers,  the  latter  now  in  the  Presbytery  of  Pittsburg  and  the 
former  in  the  Presbytery  of  Washington.  After  going  back  East 
he  married.  He  returned  to  this  region  in  '76  and  in  '78  brought 
his  family,  crossing  the  mountains  on  pack-horses.  He  was  pas- 
tor of  the  two  churches  he  organized  till  his  death,  November 
16,  1833.  He  was  a  tall,  rough-looking  man,  with  a  voice  re- 
sembling thunder.  Dr.  D.  X.  Junkin  said  of  him,  "Dr.  McMil- 
lan's voice,  even  when  your  present  speaker  sat  under  him  in 
1829-31,  was  strong,  clear  and  powerful  in  the  tones  of  denunci- 
ation, but  often  meltingly  tender.  He  almost  made  you  hear  the 
vibration  of  Sinai's  thunder,  and  yet  when  setting  forth  the  love 
of  Jesus,  his  voice  would  mellow  to  the  tenderest  tones.  At  the 
Communion  season  he  was  peculiarly  effective.  Then  his  heart 
and  eyes  and  voice  were  like  one  fresh  from  Gethsemane  and 
Golgotha."  We  presume  that  his  subsequent  life  and  labors  will 
be  treated  of  at  length  in  the  history  of  Pittsburgh  Presbytery, 
within  who.se  bounds  Dr.  McMillan  did  his  greatest  work,  and 
which  includes  Chartiers  Church,  where  his   remains   lie  buried. 

Rev.  Thaddeus  Dodd,  a  descendant  of  a  New  England 
family,  a  man  in  the  prime  of  life,  after  two  years  pastoral  labor 
at  Patterson's  Creek.  Va.,  (1777-1779)  came  to  this  region  in 
September  of  the  latter  year  and  began  his  labors  in  the  Upper 
and  Lower  Ten  Mile  Churches,  where  he  continued  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death  in  1793.     He  was  a  gentle,  earnest  man,  a  fine 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  5 

scholar,  especially  noted  as  a  mathematician  and  very  attractive 
as  a  preacher.  He  was  born  near  Newark,  N.  J.,  March  7th, 
1740.  He  graduated  at  Princeton  in  1773,  was  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York  in  1775,  and  in  October,  1777, 
was  ordained  by  the  .same  Presbytery  "sine  titulo."  Washington 
Presbytery  will  doubtless  give  the  details  of  his  work. 

Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  was  born  in  Nottingham,  Md.,  in  1736, 
was  licensed  to  picach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  August 
5th,  1767,  after  graduating  at  Princeton,  1764.  He  was  ordained 
by  the  same  Presbytery,  April  19th,  1769  and  installed  pastor  of 
Lower  Brandy  wine  Church,  Del.  He  remained  here  until  1772. 
In  1774  he  accepted  a  call  to  the  Second  church  in  Wilmington, 
where  he  labored  till  1778,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  the 
distracted  state  of  the  country.  In  1779,  the  44th  year  of  his 
age  and  the  nth  of  his  ministry,  he  came  to  this  "Western  Wil- 
derness," and  in  1780  became  pastor  of  Buffalo  and  Cross  Creek, 
both  now  in  the  bounds  of  Washington  Presbytery.  A  revival 
began  in  his  church  very  soon  after  his  arrival  which  never  ceas- 
ed till  the  day  of  his  death.  As  a  preacher  he  was  very  impres- 
sive both  in  the  terrific  and  the  pathetic.  He  dealt  largely  in  the 
terrors  of  the  law,  so  much  so  that  some  of  the  irreverent  called 
him  "Hell  Fire  Smith."  Rev.  Samuel  Porter  says  of  him,  "I 
never  heard  a  man  who  could  so  completely  as  Mr.  Smith,  un- 
bar the  gates  of  Hell  and  make  me  look  down  into  the  dark,  bot- 
tomless abyss,  or  like  him  could  so  throw  open  the  gates  of 
Heaven  and  let  me  glance  at  the  insufferable  brightness  of  the 
great  white  throne."     Mr.  Smith  died  April  19,  1792. 

OKGANIZ.ITION    OF    REDSTONE    PRESBYTERY. 

The  Act  for  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone 
was  adopted  by  the  Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  in 
session  at  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  May  16,  178 1.  It  directed  that  the 
Presbytery  should  meet  at  Laurel  Hill  Church  (now  in  Fayette 
county.  Pa.,)  on  the  third  Wednesday  of  September  at  1 1  o'clock 
A.  M.,  (September  19th). 

The  meeting  was  held  at  the  appointed  time,  but  at  Pigeon 
Creek  instead  of  Laurel  Hill,  because  the  incursions  of  the  sav- 


6  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

ages  into  Washington  county  rendered  it  very  undesirable  for  the 
ministers  there  to  leave  their  homes.  The  record  is  as  follows  : 
U.  P.  P.  S.,  the  Revs.  Messrs.  John  McMillan,  James  Power  and 
Thaddeus  Dodd.  Elders,  John  Neil,  Demas  Lindley  and  Patrick 
Scott.     Absent,  the  Rev.  Joseph  Smith. 

The  second  meeting  failed  for  want  of  a  quorum.  The 
third  meeting  ar  Sewickley  also  failed  "by  reason  of  the  incur- 
sions of  the  savages"  into  Washington  county.  The  next  and 
subsequent  meetings  were  held  without  interruption. 

The  Presbytery  continued  with  great  zeal  for  a  period  of  12 
years  to  push  forward  her  work  within  the  immense  boundaries 
described  before — or  up  to  the  formation  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Ohio  in  1793.  In  the  meantime,  however,  May  28th,  1788,  the 
Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  having  completed  the  re- 
vision of  the  public  standards  of  the  church  and  having  adopted 
them,  arranged  for  the  organization  of  a  General  Assembly.  To 
accomplish  this,  the  old  Synod  was  divided  into  four  Synods, 
viz. :  New  York  and  New  Jersey,  Philadelphia,  Virginia  and  the 
Carolinas.  Redstone  was  set  off  in  order  to  form  the  Synod  of 
Virginia.  This  change  of  relation,  however,  did  not  make  any 
change  on  the  boundary  lines  of  the  Presbytery  up  to  the  time 
noted  above — 1793.  During  these  years  the  Presbytery  received 
a  number  of  ministers  and  organized  various  churches.  Rev. 
James  Dunlap  was  received  from  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle. 
He  served  in  1782  the  church  of  Dunlap's  Creek  and  subse- 
quently he  became  the  pastor  of  Laurel  Hill  Church,  continuing 
in  that  relation  until  1803,  when  he  was  made  President  of  Jeffer- 
son College. 

In  1783  Rev.  John  Clark  was  received  into  the  Presbytery 
and  shortly  afterwards  was  installed  as  pastor  of  Lebanon  and 
Bethel,  continuing  in  that  relation  till  his  death  in  1797. 

Mr.  Alexander  Addison,  a  licentiate  from  Scotland,  applied 
in  1785  to  be  taken  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery.  His  ex- 
aminations were  not  entirely  satisfactory  and  he  was  not  received, 
though  leave  was  given  him  to  preach  to  the  church  of  Wash- 
ington until  the  next  meetinsr  and  at  that  meeting  until  the  meet- 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  J 

iniT  of  Synod,  after  which  his  name  is  not  mentioned.  He  studi- 
ed  law  and  became  an  eminent  jurist  and  judge. 

Then  we  find  on  the  records  the  name  of  Rev.  James 
Hughes,  who  was  one  of  the  four  young  men  hcensed  in  1788. 
He  became  pastor  of  the  churches  of  Short  Creek,  now^  West 
Liberty,  West  Va.,  and  Lower  Buffalo.  Afterwards  he  removed 
to  the  Presbytery  of  Miami  and  became  the  President  in  1818,  of 
what  is  now  Miami  University. 

We  find  on  the  roll  the  name  of  Rev.  Samuel  Porter,  who 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  November  12th,  1789,  and  be- 
came pastor  of  the  churches  of  Congruity  and  Poke  Run  in 
1790;  of  the  latter  he  was  pastor  until  1798,  and  of  the  former 
congregation  he  continued  as  pastor  up  to  the  time  of  his  death, 
September  22d,  1825.     He  was  66  years  old. 

Rev.  Joseph  Patterson,  a  man  famous  in  his  day,  belonged 
at  this  time  to  the  Presbytery.  Indeed  he  was  licensed  by  the 
Presbytery  in  1788.  He  was  pastor  of  the  church  of  Raccoon 
for  27  years,  dying  February  4th,  1832,  aged  80  years. 

Rev.  George  Hill,  born  in  York  county,  March  13th,  1764, 
was  licensed  in  1791.  He  became  pastor  of  Fairfield,  Donegal 
and  Wheatfield.  He  was  afterwards  released  from  Wheatfield 
and  took  instead  Ligonier,  a  new  congregation  organized  be- 
tween Fairfield  and  Donegal.  He  finally  devoted  his  whole  time 
to  Fairfield,  where  he  remained  till  his  death  in  1822. 

Rev.  Jacob  Jennings,  grandfather  of  the  late  Rev.  S.  C.  Jen- 
nings, D.  D.,  was  received  from  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church 
and  made  pastor  of  Dunlap's  Creek  Church.  Rev.  David  Smith, 
father  of  the  author  of  "Old  Redstone,"  was  licensed  in  Novem- 
ber, 1792,  and  became  pastor  first  of  George's  Creek  and  Tent 
Churches,  and  afterwards  of  Rehoboth  and  Round  Hill  Churches. 
He  died  August  14th,  1803.  A  writer  says,  "The  Presbytery  of 
Redstone  was  composed  of  able,  devoted  and  self-denying  men. 
They  were  men  for  the  times.  Although  commencing  in  the 
wilderness,  they  were  not  forgetful  of  the  prospective  wants  of 
the  country.  They  laid  the  foundations  deep  and  broad.  The 
influence  they  exerted  in  the  planting  of  the  church  is  felt  at  the 


8  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

present  day,  not  only  in  the  region  where  they  labored  but  in  the 
regions  beyond." 

PRESDYTERY    OF    OHIO. 

In  the  year  1793  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  was  organized  by 
the  Synod  of  Virginia,  cutting  off  all  that  territory  lying  west 
of  the  Monongahela  river,  including  what  is  now  Washington 
Presbytery  and  that  part  of  Pittsburgh  Presbytery  west  of  the 
Monongahela  river  and  south  of  the  Ohio.  The  ministers  in  the 
new  Presbytery  were  John  McMillan,  Joseph  Patterson,  James 
Hughes,  John  Clark  and  John  Brice,  together  with  all  the 
churches  west  of  the  Monongahela  river.  The  boundaries  now 
were  the  Monongahela  river  on  the  west,  Lake  Erie  on  the 
north,  the  Allegheny  mountains  on  the  east  and  a  part  of  Vir- 
ginia on  the  south.  Plow  far  the  Presbytery  extended  into  Vir- 
ginia is  not  definitely  known — probably  as  far  as  Presbyterians 
could  be  found.  Within  this  newly  adjusted  boundar)^  the  Pres- 
bytery continued  to  work  till  the  year  1801,  when  the  Synod  of 
Virginia  erected  the  Presbytery  of  Erie.  This  organization  was 
granted  on  the  unanimous  request  of  the  members  present  from 
the  Presbyteries  of  Redstone  and  Ohio,  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Synod  of  Virginia,  in  session  at  Winchester,  Va.,  October  2d, 
1 801,  and  included  Rev.  Messrs.  Thos.  E.  Hughes,  Wm.  Wick, 
Samuel  Tait,  Joseph  Stockton  and  Robert  Lee,  together  with  all 
the  congregations  north  and  northwest  of  the  Ohio  and  Alle- 
gheny rivers  "unto  the  place  where  the  Ohio  river  crosses  the 
western  boundary  of  Pennsylvania."  (Act  of  Synod  in  History 
of  Presbytery  of  Erie,  by  Dr.  Eaton). 

SYNOD    OF    PITTSBURGH. 

In  the  year  1802,  by  the  act  of  the  General  Assembly,  the 
Presbytery  of  Redstone  was  set  off  from  the  Synod  of  Virginia, 
and  with  her  two  daughters  was  organized  into  the  Synod  of 
Pittsburgh.  Thus  Redstone  assisted  in  the  organization  of  two 
Synods  and  the  General  Assembly  and  is  now  in  the  third  Synod. 
It  would  make  our  history  too  long  and  tedious  to  speak  of  all 
the  ministers  whose  names  have  appeared  on  her  roll. 

In  1788,  when  the  Synod  of  Virginia  was  formed,  there 
were  on   the   roll   eight  ordained  ministers,  viz.:     James  Finley, 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  9 

John  Clark,  Joseph  Smith,  John  McMillan,  James  Dunlap,  James 
Power,  Thaddeus  Dodd  and  Samuel  Barr. 

We  have  not  the  means  of  knowing  accurately  the  names  of 
all  the  churches,  as  there  are  no  statistical  reports,  and  in  the 
minutes,  congregations  and  preaching  stations  are  not  distin- 
guished. Twenty-four  places  are  mentioned  as  supplicating  or 
applying  for  supplies.  Some  of  these  we  know  were  organized. 
When  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  was  organized,  there  were  twelve 
ministers  in  the  Presbytery,  viz. :  James  Power,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Pa.; 
Joseph  Henderson,  Ebcnezer  and  Blacklick;  James  Dunlap,  Lau- 
rel Hill;  Jacob  Jennings,  Dunlap's  Creek  and  Little  Redstone; 
John  McPherrin,  Salem;  Samuel  Porter,  Congruity;  George  Hill, 
Fairfield  and  Donegal;  Wm.  Swan,  Long  Run  and  Sewickley; 
David  Smith,  Round  Hill  and  Rehoboth;  James  Adams,  George's 
Creek  and  Union;  Francis  Laird,  Poke  Run  and  Plum  Creek; 
Robert  Steel,  pastor  elect,  Pittsburgh.  The  vacant  churches 
able  to  support  a  pastor  were  Pittsburgh,  Greensburg  and  Unity; 
Pitt  Township  and  McKeesport ;  Morgantown  and  Middletown. 
The  churches  unable  to  support  a  pastor  were  New  Providence, 
Uniontowm,  Tyrone,  Sandy  Creek  Crossings,  Clarksburg,  Ty- 
gart's  Valley,  Somerset,  Turkey  Foot,  VMieatfield  and  Stoney 
Creek.  About  this  time  some  of  the  churches  were  visited  with 
a  wonderful  revival  accompanied  by  what  were  called  "The  Fall- 
ing Exercises."  These  were  often  observed  in  churches  now  in 
Washington  county.  Rev.  Robt.  Johnson  who  was  an  eye  wit- 
ness of  this  work  in  the  Round  Hill  Church,  gives  the  following 
account  of  it : 

"I  have  seen  men  and  women  in  solemn  attitude,  pondering 
the  truths  which  were  presented,  fall  in  a  moment  from  their 
seats  or  off  their  feet  as  helpless  as  though  they  had  been  shot 
and  lie  from  ten  to  fifteen  or  twenty  minutes  or  longer  as  motion- 
less as  a  person  in  a  sound  sleep.  At  other  times  the  whole 
frame  would  be  thrown  into  a  state  of  agitation  as  seemingly  to 
endanger  the  safety  of  the  subject;  and  yet  in  a  moment  this  agi- 
tation would  cease  and  the  person  arise  in  the  full  possession  of 
all  his  bodily  senses  and  take  his  seat  composed  and  solemn 
without  the  least  sensation  of  pain  or  uneasiness." 


lO  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

A  very  deep  impression  was  made  upon  the  people  by  these 
exercises  and  the  very  old,  as  long  as  they  lived,  spoke  of  them 
with  the  most  profound  reverence.  In  these  meetings  very  many 
were  brought  into  the  fold  of  Christ,  who  were  pillars  in  the 
house  of  the  Lord.  The  question  as  to  how  the  persons  who 
were  the  subjects  of  these  remarkable  experiences  conducted 
themselves  is  one  of  deep  interest. 

A  very  old  lady  whose  memory  ran  back  to  those  times 
once  said  to  the  writer,  "Some  of  them  proved  to  be  very  good 
Christians  and  were  useful  in  the  church  and  others  soon  went 
back  to  the  world  and  became  as  wicked  as  ever."  In  some 
churches  there  was  a  continuous  revival  lasting  a  number  of 
years.     Revivals  began  at  an  early  day. 

In  1778  the  settlers  in  what  is  now  Washington  county  were 
driven  into  Vance's  Fort  by  the  Indians.  Then  God's  spirit  was 
poured  out  in  copious  showers.  "From  1781  to  1787,"  says  the 
historian,  "a  most  extensive  work  of  grace  was  experienced  in  the 
churches  of  Cross  Creek,  Upper  Buffalo,  Chartiers,  Pigeon  Creek, 
Bethel,  Lebanon,  Ten  Mile,  Cross  Roads  and  Mill  Creek,  during 
which  more  than  a  thousand  persons  were  brought  into  the 
Kingdom  of  Christ." 

"From  1795  to  1799  another  series  of  gracious  visitations 
were  enjoyed  by  the  churches  generally,  throughout  Western 
Pennsylvania,  extending  to  the  new  settlements  north  of  Pitts- 
burgh." (Dr.  Eaton's  History  of  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  p.  405.) 
These  reached  on  into  the  new  century  as  we  have  seen.  The 
Communion  seasons  were  usually  occasions  of  very  great  inter- 
est. People  came  on  horseback  and  in  wagons  not  infrequently 
as  far  as  twenty  miles  and  lodged  with  the  members  who  were 
nearer  until  the  services  were  concluded.  Often  has  the  writer 
heard  one  who  had  been  present  in  these  seasons  speak  of  the 
delightful  social  Christian  intercourse  enjoyed. 

EDUCATION. 

Redstone  Presbytery  was  a  pioneer  in  Christian  Education. 
The  early  pastors  were  deeply  impressed  with  the  importance  of 
raising  up  a  native  ministry.     The  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  had 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  II 

led  young  men  to  consider  the  duty  of  preaching  Christ.  But 
there  were  no  available  facilities  for  education.  The  pastors 
though  burdened  with  the  labor  needed  to  help  support  their 
families,  with  the  care  of  planting  and  fostering  the  infant  churches 
in  the  wilderness  and  looking  after  the  lost  sheep  of  the  house  of 
Israel,  heroically  undertook  this  new  work  of  educating  the 
young. 

FIRST    SCHOOLS. 

In  1782  Thaddeus  Dodd  built  a  little  log  cabin  and  opened 
a  classical  and  mathematical  school  which  continued  for  three 
and  a  half  years,  till  he  sold  his  farm.  In  1785  Jo.seph  Smith 
began  a  school  at  Buffalo  in  his  study,  for  young  men,  who  were 
preparing  for  the  ministry.  In  Dodd's  Academy,  amongst  others 
were  Jas.  Hughes,  John  Brice,  Daniel  Lindley,  Robert  Marshall, 
John  Hanna  and  David  Smith.  When  Mr.  Dodd's  school  was 
suspended  Messrs.  Hughes,  Brice  and  perhaps  others  went  to 
Buffalo  to  Joseph  Smith's  school,  in  1785,  where  they  were  join- 
ed by  Joseph  Patterson,  Jas.  McGready  and  Samuel  Porter. 
This  school  was  continued  with  success  until  Mr.  Smith's  failing 
health  compelled  him  after  a  few  years  to  give  it  up  and  his 
scholars  passed  into  the  Log  Cabin  School  at  Chartiers. 

The  exact  time  when  Dr.  McMillan  began  his  school  at 
Chartiers  has  been  in  dispute  and  also  the  character  of  the  school. 
Dr.  J.  I.  Brownsbn,  who  has  thoroughly  examined  the  discussion 
pro  and  con,  suggests  that  Dr.  McMillan's  school  may  have  been 
opened  in  1780  and  included  Latin  and  Greek  in  its  design  as  far 
as  there  was  demand  for  them,  and  when  two  years  later  Mr. 
Dodd's  distinctly  classical  school  was  started,  such  instruction 
may  have  been  surrendered  to  him  for  the  time  being,  in  view  of 
the  sufficiency  of  one  such  school  to  meet  the  demand  at  the 
time.  The  "Log  College"  survived  the  others,  supplying  classi- 
cal and  even  theological  training  till  after  the  Academy  was  start- 
ed in  Canonsburg  in  1791,  when  the  students  in  it  were  passed 
over  to  that  institution.     (See  Pres.  Cen.  Convention,  p.  74.) 

On  September  24th,  1787,  a  charter  was  granted  for  an 
Academy  in  Washington,  Pa.,  by  an  Act  of  the  Legislature  of 
Pennsylvania.     The  same  Act  devoted  for  the  uses  of  the  Acad- 


12  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

emy  5,000  acres  of  land  north  of  the  Ohio  river,  chiefly  in  what 
is  now  Beaver  county.  The  charter  was  secured  mainly  through 
the  influence  of  Dr.  McMillan  and  his  two  Elders,  Judges  Alli- 
son and  McDowell,  who  were  members  of  the  Legislature.  In 
1789  the  Academy  went  into  opei'ation  under  the  care  of  Mr. 
Dodd,  who  had  given  up  his  Academy  on  the  Ten  Mile. 

In  1 791  the  burning  of  the  Court  House  in  Washington, 
the  difficulty  of  obtaining  a  suitable  building,  the  donation  of  a 
lot  of  ground  by  Col.  John  Canon  in  Canonsburg  and  the  gift 
of  a  considerable  sum  of  money  by  the  same  gentleman  turned 
the  tide  in  favor  of  the  establishment  of  another  Academy  in  the 
last  named  place.  A  school  was  opened  there  and  the  first  reci- 
tation in  Latin  was  made  by  Robt.  Patterson  and  Mr.  Wm.  Rid- 
dle. Rev.  Messrs.  McMillan,  Smith,  Henderson  and  others  in- 
terested in  the  new  institution  were  present  and  at  the  request  of 
Dr.  McMillan,  Mr.  Henderson  opened  and  Mr.  Smith  closed  the 
exercises  with  prayer.  That  first  recitation  was  made  "under  the 
shade  of  some  sassafras  bushes."  In  that  year,  1791,  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Redstone  overtured  the  Synod  of  Virginia  on  the  edu- 
cation of  pious  young  men  for  the  ministry.  The  Synod  re- 
sponded by  recommending  the  establishment  of  two  schools,  one 
in  Rockbridge  county,  Va.,  under  the  Presidency  of  Rev.  Wm. 
Graham  and  the  supervision  of  the  Presbyteries  of  Lexington 
and  Hanover  and  the  other  in  Washington  county.  Pa.,  under 
Dr.  McMillan  and  the  supervision  of  the  Presbytery  of  Red- 
stone. Canonsburg  was  chosen  as  the  place  and  the  Academy 
chartered  in  1794. 

EARLY    COLLEGES. 

The  former  institution  grew  into  Washington  College  at 
Lexington,  Va.,  and  the  latter  into  Jefterson  College,  being  char- 
tered as  a  college  in  1802.  In  1-806,  Washington  Academy,  after 
varied  fortune,  became  Washington  College.  The  history  and 
work  of  these  institutions,  their  rivalry,  their  struggles  with  pov- 
erty, the  efforts  and  sacrifices  of  their  friends,  the  efforts  for  en- 
dowment, the  plans  for  union  in  deference  to  the  demands  of  the 
Christian  public,  form  most  interesting  chapters  in  the  education- 
al history  of  the  region,  but  we  can  not   dwell    upon    them.     In 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 3 

1865  the  efforts  for  union  were  partially  successful;  a  plan  was 
adopted,  a  charter  obtained,  giving  the  three  higher  classes  to 
Canonsburg,  and  the  Freshmen,  the  Preparatory  and  the  Scien- 
tific departments  to  Washington.  In  1869  this  was  abandoned, 
a  complete  union  formed  and  the  united  College  was  located  at 
Washington  and  Jefferson  Academ}'  at  Canonsburg.  Convenient 
buildings,  located  in  a  beautiful  campus  and  an  endowment  of 
$250,000  have  been  secured.  The  life  of  the  College  is  assured, 
but  more  buildings  and  larger  endowment  are  needed. 

MISSIONARY    CH.^RACTER. 

The  Presbytery  was  essentially  a  missionary  Presbytery. 
Its  members  not  only  preached  to  their  own  people  but  they  vis- 
ited waste  places,  sought  out  destitute  ones  and  organized  them 
into  churches  and  watched  over  them  till  pastors  could  be  ob- 
tained. The  labor  performed  was  wonderful,  especially  when  it 
is  remembered  there  were  no  public  conveyances  of  any  kind 
and  traveling  was  on  horse-back  or  on  foot,  without  roads, 
bridges  or  ferries,  and  without  comfortable  stopping  places  at 
night.  Often,  says  the  historian,  has  the  preacher  been  com- 
pelled to  swim  the  creek  or  river  on  Sabbath  morning  and  preach 
in  his  wet  clothes  and  then  hasten  on  to  fill  another  appointment. 
Perhaps  after  a  two  days'  ride  he  could  not  cross  the  swollen 
stream  and  was  compelled  to  retrace  his  steps  without  delivering 
his  message.  (Hist.  Erie  Pres.,  p.  12).  Yet  their  success  was 
great  and  churches  seemed  to  spring  up  everywhere.  Such  was 
the  growth  that  in  October,  1801,  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  in  ses- 
sion at  Winchester,  organized  the  Presbytery  of  Erie,  as  we  have 
seen,  from  the  Presbyteries  of  Redstone  and  Ohio.  And  in  May, 
1802,  the  General  Assembly  organized  from  Redstone,  Ohio  and 
Erie,  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  mother,  daughter  and  grand- 
daughter. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  in  Pitts- 
burgh, September  29th,  1802,  it  was  resolved  (ist)  "that  the  Synod 
of  Pittsburgh  should  be  styled  the  Western  Missionary  Society. 
(2d)  That  the  object  of  the  Missionary  Society  is  to  diffuse  the 
knowledge  of  the  Gospel  among  the  inhabitants  of  the   new  set- 


14  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

tlements,  the  Indian  tribes  and  if  need  be  among  some  of  the  in- 
terior inhabitants  where  they  are  not  able  to  support  the  Gospel." 
Redstone  Presbytery  entered  heartily  upon  this  work  of  the  Syn- 
od, aiding  the  missionary  efforts  among  the  Wyandotte  In- 
dians, at  Sandusky;  the  Senecas,  near  Buffalo;  the  Ottawas, 
near  Maumee  and  the  Cornplanters  on  the  head-waters  of  the 
Allegheny. 

CONTRIBUTIONS. 

But  even  before  this  something  had  been  done  in  the  way  of- 
contributions.  We  find  that  on  the  20th  of  Augu.st,  1789,  Pres- 
bytery ordered  "that  collections  be  raised  from  the  several  con- 
gregations under  the  care  of  this  P.  b.  y.  agreeably  to  the  Act 
of  General  Assembly,  and  that  the  money  collected  be  brought 
to  our  spring  meeting,"  (p.  60,  min.  Redstone.)  This  was  prob- 
ably to  bear  the  expenses  of  Commissioners  to  the  General  As- 
sembly, and,  indeed,  in  the  earlier  history  much  of  the  energy  of 
the  Presbytery,  in  the  way  of  raising  money  seems  to  have  been 
devoted  to  this  object  and  to  getting  arrears  in  pastors'  salaries 
settled  up.  But  at  a  meeting  held  November  12th,  1789,  we  find 
this  record: 

"Agreeably  to  a  recommendation  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia 
for  raising  contributions  for  the  support  of  missionaries,  the 
P.  b.  y.  agrees  to  make  contributions  in  the  several  congrega- 
tions for  that  purpose  as  soon  as  convenient  and  that  report  of 
success  in  the  same  be  brought  in  at  next  spring  meeting,"  (min. 
p.  62).  Then,  April  22d,  1790,  the  Presbytery  makes  inquiry 
and  finding  that  some  congregations  had  not  attended  to  the 
matter  directs  them  to  take  collections  and  pay  the  same  to  Mr. 
McMillan,  Treasurer,  (p.  65.)  This  record  says  the  object  was 
to  pay  missionaries  to  vacant  congregations.  In  September  fol- 
lowing, the  order  was  renewed,  (p.  70.)  October  19,  1796,  the 
order  was  again  renewed  and  the  money  ordered  to  be  forwarded 
to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Commission  appointed  by  the  Synod  of 
Virginia.  It  was  again  renewed  in  1799,  (p.  130).  In  June,  1799, 
Presbytery  "injoined  its  members  to  exert  themselves  in  endeav- 
oring to  raise  collections  for  the  support  of  missionaries  and  to 
report  at  our  next  meeting,"  (p.  149). 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 5 

On  p.  152  is  the  record  that  the  following  sums  were  col- 
lected for  the  Missionaries,  viz.: 

£.  s.  d. 
Salem,  ....  2  2  6 
Little  Redstone,  .         .     i  3        io>^ 

Long  Run,       ...18         6% 
Round  Hill,         .         .         •     3        I5  i 

Unity,       ....  I        10          8>^ 

Sewickley,  .  .  .  .  i  16  o 
Rehoboth,  .  .  .  5  12  6 
Other  records  follow  showing  that  the  Presbytery  was  alive 
to  Missionary  work  and  their  eftorts  were  the  more  commenda- 
ble when  we  remember  the  scarcity  of  money  in  early  days.  It 
is  worthy  of  note  that  by  the  efforts  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh, 
in  which  the  Presbytery  took  such  an  active  part,  was  sown  the 
seed  which  has  grown  and  ripened  into  the  great  work  which  the 
church  to-day  is  carrying  on  at  home  and  abroad  in  the  name  of 
the  Lord.  Note  should  be  made  also  of  the  work  of  the  Pres- 
bytery in  aiding  young  men  of  limited  means  to  obtain  an  educa- 
tion. 

In  Joseph  Smith's  school,  at  Buffalo,  there  were  four  young 
men,  Jas.  Hughes,  John  Brice,  Jos.  Patterson  and  Samuel  Porter, 
aided  by  the  ladies  of  Buffalo,  Bethel,  Chartiers  and  Cross  Creek 
Churches,  who  furnished  them  a  part  at  least  of  their  clothing. 
So  far  as  we  know  this  was  the  first  Educational  Society  in  the 
Presbytery.  (See  Dr.  Smith's  Hist,  of  Jefferson  College,  Oct., 
1 791.)  The  Presbytery  in  approving  the  action  of  the  Synod  of 
Virginia  in  establishing  the  two  schools,  or  Seminaries,  as  the 
Synod  termed  them,  recommended  as  follows:  "The  P.  b.  y. 
therefore  order  their  members  to  use  their  best  endeavors  to  ob- 
tain contributions  for  the  above  purpose  and  put  them  in  the 
hands  of  Mr.  McMillan,  who  is  appointed  Treasurer,  as  soon  as 
possible,  and  of  their  diligence  therein  to  render  account  at  our 
next  Spring  meeting,"  (p.  81.)  Dr.  McMillan  faithfully  attended 
to  this  duty  and  in  pursuance  of  it  attended  the  meetings  of  Red- 
stone Presbytery  for  eleven  years  after  Ohio  Presbytery  was 
formed  as  faithfully  as  he  did  his  own. 


1 6  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

For  a  period  of  30  years  the  work  of  the  Presbytery  was 
quiet,  yet  faithful,  under  the  ministrations  of  such  good  men  as 
Dr.  Power,  Samuel  Porter,  Rev.  Geo.  Hill,  Wm.  Swan,  Wm. 
Speer,  Francis  Herron,  Joseph  Stockton,  Wm.  Wylie,  Robt. 
Patterson,  Robt.  Johnson,  Jas.  Graham,  Jas.  Guthrie,  Wm.  John- 
ston, Elisha  P.  Swift,  Ashbel  G.  Fairchild,  John  Reed,  Aretas 
Loomis,  A.  O.  Patterson,  Jos.  Henderson,  Francis  Laird,  Robt. 
Lee,  A.sa  Brooks,  David  Barclay,  Geo.  Van  Eman,  John  McPher- 
rin,  Thos.  Hunt  and  Thos.  Davis.  If  it  were  not  that  we  must 
be  brief,  it  would  be  interesting  to  give  a  sketch  of  the  work  per- 
formed by  some  of  these  faithful  servants  of  Christ,  whose  names 
and  memories  are  still  fragrant  in  the  church. 

DRS.    SWIFT    AND    HERRON. 

The  names  of  Francis  Herron  and  Elisha  P.  Swift  are  inter- 
woven with  the  history  of  the  Church  in  Pittsburgh  and  Alle- 
gheny. They  did  a  work  there  in  laying  the  foundations  of  Pres- 
byterianism  which  will  never  be  forgotten.  We  doubt  not  that 
the  historians  of  these  churches  will  do  justice  to  these  godly 
men. 

Samuel  Porter  did  a  work  in  the  Congruity  Church  and 
Geo.  Hill  in  Fairfield  and  Ligonier  Churches  which  have  made 
their  names  memorable  in  Blairsville  Presbytery. 

MEMBERS    OF    PRESBYTERY. 

We  refer  to  two  or  three  who  served  the  church  grandly  in 
the  bounds  of  the  Redstone  of  to-day.  Robt.  Johnston  was  one 
of  these.  He  was  of  English  extraction,  a  lineal  descendant  of 
Oliver  Cromwell,  born  August /th,  1774.  He  was  educated  at 
Canonsburg  and  Dr.  McMillan's  "Log  College,"  licensed  by  the 
Presbytery  of  Ohio  in  1802,  came  to  this  Presbytery  from  the 
Presbytery  of  Erie  and  settled  in  Round  Hill  and  Rehoboth  con- 
gregations in  1817,  continuing  for  five  years  in  that  relation.  He 
was  a  successful  pastor  and  a  vigorous  preacher.  During  his 
pastorate  these  churches  enjoyed  some  precious  revivals. 

Ashbel  Green  Fairchild,  D.  D.,  was  another  of  Redstone's 
noble  workers.  He  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  May  ist,  1795, 
graduated  from  Princeton  in  181 3,  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Jersey,  April  1 8 16,  received    under   the    care    of  Redstone 


PRESBYTERV     OF    REDSTONE. 


17 


Presbytery,  April  21st,  181 8,  and  July  ist  following,  was  ordain- 
ed as  an  evangelist.  July  2d,  1822,  he  was  settled  as  pastor  at 
George's  Creek,  Morgantown  ajid  Greensboro,  at  a  salary  of 
5333-00.  In  '27  he  resigned  Morgantown  and  Greensboro  and 
was  settled  over  the  Tent  Church,  giving  it  half  the  time  and 
George's  Creek  the  other  half,  till  April,  1854,  from  which  time 
till  his  death,  June,  1864,  he  gave  his  whole  time  to  the  Tent 
Church.  He  was  a  faithful  and  successful  pastor.  Of  wide  and 
varied  scholarship,  of  genial  temper,  simple,  dignified,  yet  unas- 
suming, tried  and  true  as  a  friend,  he  was  greatly  beloved  by 
his  people  and  esteemed  by  his  brethren.  The  historian  of  the 
Tent  Church  has  given  a  most  admirable  description  of  this  good 
man.  It  will  be  found  further  on  in  this  book.  But  we  must 
not  tarry  longer  with  these  personal  sketches. 

The  first  Statistical  Report  recorded  in  the  minutes  of  Red- 
stone Presbytery  is  as  follows,  (p.  234,  in  1809): 


Total    in     Communion, 
April  1st,  1808. 

Members 

g 

n' 

g 

en' 

3 

en" 

n 

c 

en 

fD 

3 

a 

H 
0 

n 
0 
3 

3 

c 

3 

o' 

3 

Baptized  since. 

added. 

> 

CL 

H 
0 

NAMES 
OF  CHURCHES. 

0 

3 

■""  i. 

0 
n 

n 
0 

9 

/) 

Si- 

Congruity  .... 
Poke  Run  •    •    •    1 
Plumb  Creek  .   .   / 

Beulah 

Rehoboth  .... 
Round  Hill    .    .    . 
Laurel  Hill    .    .    . 

Tyrone 

Rehoboth  (New)  . 

Licking 

1st  Pres.  Cong.  Pitts 

125 

136 
122 

120 
90 
20 
33 
45 

8 
7 

7 
15 
2 
8 
6 

3 

I 

1 

18 

25 
2 

I 

2 

9 

2 
2 

I 

144 
122 

126 
lOI 

1 
I 

7 
2 

I 

45 
56 
20 

22 
20 
II 

15 
18 

48 

57 
20 

22 
27 
13 
16 
18 

PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 


Theological  Seminary. 

^   CO  o 

ON   t^    "^ 

1>«    LO 

Educational. 

^88 

lo        O    O 

CM           O    O 

r^            M      CM 

Commissioners'  Fund. 

o  o  o 
o  o  o 

ro  ro  LO 

O   <-o  O    O 

LO  LO   o     O 

"^  Lo»0  "O 

Missionary. 

CO 
00 

LO  O         O    O         O 

o  o       o  o       o 

O)      LO             LO    CO             O 
LO   1^             CM                      CO 

P. 

P5 

Toial. 

vO  MD    1-1    1-1    CO  LO  '^ 
CM     CO            CM             1-1 

Infants. 

CM    On          On          cm    ^ 

CM     CS              1-1              ►- 

Adults. 

OO     CN              ON 
LO 

Ti-  t-^  1-1     (N     CO  CO 

Total  now  in  Communion. 

HH    CO  On  f^ 
r^  cooo    O 
CM     (N     H-     CO 

LO  c)    r-^  i-i  oo  oo    '^ 
'^  CO  O   r^oo   CM    ON 

CO   CM     CO 

Suspended. 

^            -^ 

Dismissed. 

i-i   00     I^   CM 

lO    NO                                      <^ 

Died. 

c^i    ^  1-    r) 

t^     -xh     HH 

Added  on  Certificate. 

LO  lO            "^ 

1>.>0     CM     CO   r<     CM     -^ 
1-1      CM              1-1 

Added  on  Examination. 

oo  vo    O    '^ 
«    ^H    «    -^ 

rJ-OO     -^   O              '^    CM 
CO   C^)     1-     CO 

Total  Communicants  per 
last  Report. 

P-H      LO    t^    O 

LO   CM   oo   VO 
CM     CM     1-1     i-i 

t^OO     cooo     O     CM     1-1 
HH     o     ON    C^l     I>«    CM   00 
CO   CM     CM 

CO 

W 
X 
D 

X 

u 
o 

CO 
W 

< 

Rehoboth  and  Round  Hill 
Laurel  Hill  and  Tyrone 
Brown-sville  and  Dunlap's  Creek     . 
George's  Creek  and  Union 
Clarksburg  and  French  Creek 
Jefferson  and  New  Providence    . 
Mt.  Pleasant  and  Sewickley     . 
Long  Run  and  McKeesport 
Greensburg  and  Unity    . 
Somerset  and  Jenner . 
Morgantown,  S.  S.           .         .         . 
Middletown,  S.  S.       .         .         . 
Uniontown,  S.  S.     . 

PRESIJVTEKV     OF     KEDSTONE.  I9 

TRANSFER    OF    CHURCHES. 

In  the  year  1822  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  set  off  the 
churches  of  Pittsburgh  to  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  and  in  1825, 
three  years  later — in  a  small  measure  compensated  for  tlie 
loss  by  transferring  to  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  the  churches 
of  Jefferson  and  New  Providence. 

BLAIRSVILLE    PRESBVTERV. 

Up  till  1830  the  Presbytery  held  its  north-east  border  un- 
disturbed. But  at  the  October  meeting"  of  that  year,  it  request- 
ed Synod  to  divide  the  Presbytery  by  a  line  starting  at  the  Mon- 
ongahela  river  below  McKeesport  and  running  north-east  to  the 
Pittsburgh  and  Stoystown  turnpike  and  thence  along  the  pike  to 
the  top  of  the  Allegheny  mountains,  the  ministers  and  churches 
north  of  the  pike  to  be  called  the  Presbytery  of  Blairsville,  leav- 
ing it  optional  with  the  ministers  through  whose  charges  the 
road  passes  to  which  of  the  two  they  shall  belong.  (Min.  p. 
409.)  Subsequently  Greensburg  and  Donegal,  now  called  Pleas- 
ant Grove,  were  transferred  to  Blairsville,  and  the  churches  of 
Somerset  and  Jenner  at  first  in  Redstone  were  set  over  to  Blairs- 
ville, but  after  a  time  restored  to  Redstone. 

NEW    AND    OLD    SCHOOL. 

The  division  into  Old  and  New  School  affected  Redstone  at 
Greensburg,  and  at  Mt.  Pleasant  and  Pleasant  Unity,  which  at  that 
time  were  one  organization.  A  part,  the  larger  part,  went  off 
under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  Samuel  Montgomery,  at  that  time 
pastor  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  to  the  New  School  body.  A  church  was 
organized  in  the  Mt.  Pleasant  (Middle)  Church  and  another  at 
Pleasant  Unity,  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Pittsburgh. 
After  thirty-two  years  of  separate  existence,  in  the  year  1869, 
when  the  Old  School  and  the  New  School  Assemblies  united  and 
the  terms  Old  School  and  New  School  were  dropped  as  titles, 
two  congregations  under  the  care  of  Redstone  took  the  place  of 
the  three,  viz.:  Mt.  Pleasant  and  Pleasant  Unity.  Subsequently 
a  new  church  building  in  the  town  of  Mt.  Pleasant  was  erected 
and  soon  after  the  "Reunion  Church,"  of  Mt.  Plea.sant,  was  organ- 
ized. 


20  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

WEST  VIRGINIA  PRESBYTERY. 

The  only  subsequent  change  in  our  boundary  was  brought 
about  by  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  of  West  Va.,  on  the 
south,  by  which  we  lost  all  south  of  the  Pennsylvania  line.  With 
this  single  exception  the  Presbytery  has  occupied  substantially 
the  same  ground  for  about  fifty-seven  years. 

NEW     CHURCHES. 

During  these  years  some  new  and  important  churches  have 
been  organized,  viz.:  West  Newton,  Belle  Vernon,  Dunbar,  Mt. 
Pleasant  Reunion,  Scottdale,  Fairchance,  Leisenring  and  Mt. 
Vernon. 

MEMBERS    OF    PRESBYTERY. 

During  this  half  century  the  Presbytery  has  had  on  her 
rolls  not  a  few  of  the  excellent  of  the  earth,  among  whom  we 
may  mention  the  names  of  Rev.  A.  O.  Patterson,  D.  D.,  Rev.  N. 
H.  Gillett,  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad,  Rev.  Watson  Hughes,  Rev. 
John  McMillan,  D.  D., — who  rest  from  their  labors — Rev.  Sam- 
uel Wilson,  D.  D.,  long  the  pastor  of  Dunlap's  Creek,  who  is 
waiting  calmly  for  the  end  in  Fairfield,  Iowa,  and  Rev.  J.  R. 
Hughes,  who  is  still  faithfully  serving  the  Master  in  Dayton, 
Ohio.  In  the  Presbytery  is  Rev.  John  McClintock,  pastor  of 
New  Providence,  who  has  stood  in  his  lot  in  that  field,  faithful  and 
beloved  since  July,  1839,  and  Rev.  Hugh  O.  R.oseborough,  who 
has  served  the  church  of  the  "Old  Frame,"  George's  Creek,  since 
1854.  During  these  years,  v/hich  make  up  the  later  life  of  the 
Presbytery,  we  have  nothing  of  unusual  character  to  chronicle. 
Possibly  every  church  within  the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery  has 
enjoyed  precious  revivals  of  religion  and  again  has  experienced 
seasons  of  spiritual  coldness.  Pastors  have  been  released  to  go 
to  other  fields  of  labor  and  worthy  successors  have  come  to  fill 
their  places.  Some  strong  churches  have  been  weakened  for  a 
time  by  strife  and  division  or  by  immigration  and  death  and  have 
grown  strong  again  or  remain  in  a  crippled  condition.  Others 
by  revival  or  immigration  have  grown  and  are  strong — some 
which  were  in  a  healthy  state  and  able  to  support  pastors  are 
about  the  same  still — and  a  few  which  had  but  a  name  to  live 
fifty  or  sixty  years  ago  arc  still  breathing — not  exactly  dead  yet, 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  21 

but  comatose,  with  tlic  probabilities  that  in  the  course  of  nature 
they  will  join  two  or  three  others  and  be  numbered  among  the 
dead. 

We  have  at  this  day  some  eight  or  nine  churches  which  date 
their  birth  before  the  organization  of  the  Presbytery  and  are 
older  than  the  General  Assembly. 

We  believe  the  Presbyterian  church  has  not  ceased  to  be  the 
leading  denomination  in  this  region.  In  the  early  days  it  stood 
here  almost  alone;  but  now  there  are  many  others  nobly  engaged 
with  it  in  the  work  of  the  Master.  With  our  advancement  in 
numbers,  wealth  and  influence,  we  hav-e  made  advancement  in 
benevolence  and  in  sj'stematic  church  work.  Now  our  attention 
is  not  so  much  absorbed  in  efforts  to  raise  the  Commissioners' 
fund  to  defray  the  expenses  to  the  General  Assembly,  or  to  se- 
cure the  pa)'ment  of  the  arrears  of  Pastors'  salaries.  The  whole 
work  of  the  Church  at  home  and  abroad  in  bringing  the  Gospel 
to  every  creature  occupies  time  and  thought  and  prayer  and  ef- 
fort. We  are  tr)M'ng  to  build  on  the  foundations  our  fathers  laid 
in  faith  and  prayer  and  self-denial  and  toil,  to  maintain,  enlarge 
and  .strengthen  the  institutions  they  founded  and  hand  them 
down  fitted  as  well  to  do  the  work  of  the  future  as  they  were  to 
do  the  work  of  the  times  when  we  received  them.  .  The  brethren 
of  Redstone  Presbytery  are  striving  to  cultivate  well  the  field  in 
which  God  has  placed  them,  to  care  for  the  strangers  that  God  is 
bringing  into  their  midst,  to  extend  their  influence  as  far  as  they 
are  able  to  "the  regions  beyond,"  and  so  leave  the  inheritance  re- 
ceived from  the  fathers  undiminished  in  its  glory.  The  last 
statistical  report  to  the  General  Assembly  will  show  the  present 
condition  of  the  churches  and  something  of  the  progress  of  the 
Presbytery. 

PRESBYTERIAL    CENTENNIAL. 

The  history  would  be  incomplete  without  a  notice  of  the 
Centennial  Celebration  of  the  Presbytery,  held  in  Uniontown, 
Pa.,  September  22d,  1881.  This  celebration  was  held  at  Union- 
town,  rather  than  Laurel  Hill,  because  of  its  greater  accessibility 
and  superior  accommodations.  The  Synod  of  Pittsburgh  ar- 
ranged to  hold  its  eighty-first  and  last  meeting  at  the  close  of  the 


22  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

celebration.     Most  of  the  members   of  the   S}'nod   were  present 
from  the  beginning. 

After  appropriate  music,  Rev.  John  M.  Barnett,  pastor  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Connellsville,  dehvered  the  address  of 
welcome  at  1 1  a.  m.  "In  the  afternoon  Rev.  Wm.  F.  Hamilton, 
D.  D.,  of  Washington,  Pa.,  formerly  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Uniontown,  gave  a  'Brief  History  of  the  Founders  of 
Redstone  Presbytery,  Ministers  and  Elders,'  in  an  exceedingly 
clear  and  forcible  style."  After  the  singing  of  a  hymn,  Rew  S. 
J.  Wilson,  D.  D.,  since  gone  to  rest,  set  forth  with  great  vivid- 
ness and  eloquence,  "The  growth  and  influence  of  Presbyterian- 
ism,  west  of  the  Alleghenies  during  the  past  century."  He  was 
followed  by  Rev.  S.  J.  M.  Eaton,  D.  D.,  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie,  who  gave  interesting  reminiscences  of  Redstone  Presbytery. 
The  evening  exercises  were  held  in  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
Hon.  J.  K.  Ewing  presiding.  Addresses  were  made  by  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Presbyteries  occupying  territory  once  covered 
by  Redstone  Presbytery.  The  venerable  Rev.  C.  C.  Beatty,  D. 
D.  LL.  D.,  represented  Steubenville  Presbytery;  Rev.  Wm.  O. 
Stratton,  the  Presbytery  of  Mahoning;  Rev.  Anson  Smythe,  D.  ■ 
D.,  the  Presbytery  of  Cleveland;  Rev.  Wm.  M.  Robinson,  the 
Presbyter)^  of  Allegheny;  Rev.  Wm.  McMichael,  the  Presbytery 
of  Clarion.  Rev.  Wm.  V.  Milligan,  D.  D.,  of  the  Presbytery  of 
St.  Clairsville  and  Hon.  John  Trunkey,  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Erie,  were  unable  to  be  present. 

At  9  A.  M.,  on  the  23d,  the  exercises  were  resumed  on  the 
Fair  Grounds.  Rev.  W.  H.  Jeffers,  D.  D.  LL.  D.,  of  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary,  was  to  have  discussed  "The  Future  of 
Presbyterianism  and  its  part  in  moulding  the  Nation,"  but  severe 
illness  in  his  family  prevented  his  presence.  His  place  was  occu- 
pied by  Rev.  John  Gillespie,  D.  D.,  now  Junior  Secretary  of  the 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions  and  Rev.  S.  F.  Scovel.  D.  D.,  now 
President  of  Wooster  University,  O.  Both  made  excellent  ad- 
dresses. After  singing  and  prayer,  at  the  request  of  Rev.  Adam 
Torrence,  who  was  shortly  after  called  home,  the  23d  Psalm  was 
sung  and  the  benediction  pronounced  and  the  Centennial   closed. 

In  its  final  action,  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  after  extending 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  23 

heart}'  thanks  to  various  parties,  added  "also  to  the  Presbytery  of 
Redstone  for  the  invitation  extended  to  the  other  Presb}'teries  to 
share  the  enjoyments  and  benefits  of  the  exceedingly  interesting 
and  profitable  celebration  of  the  one  hundredth  anniversary  of 
the  formation  of  that  first  Presbytery  west  of  the  Allegheny 
mountains." 

THANK    OFFERINGS. 

During  the  sessions  of  the  Synod  the  following  resolution 
was  adopted :  "Whereas,  the  last  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  Pitts- 
burgh occurs  in  connection  with  the  Centennial  celebration  of 
the  foundation  of  Redstone  Presb\'tery,  therefore.  Resolved, 
That  as  a  monument  of  this  memorable  occasion,  the  churches 
in  the  bounds  of  the  Synod  contribute  $3,000  to  found  in  the 
Western  Theological  Seminary,  a  scholarship  to  be  named  the 
Redstone  Centennial  Scholarship."  The  following  Committee, 
one  from  each  Presbytery,  was  appointed  to  suggest  the  means 
for  carrying  out  this  resolution,  viz.  :  Rev.  Messrs.  W.  W. 
Moorhead,  C.  V.  McCaig,  Wm.  P.  Moore,  W.  F.  Hamilton  and 
J.  B.  Reed.  The  committee  reported  a  plan  which  was  adopted, 
but  was  subsequently  so  modified  and  changed,  that  under  the 
management  of  Rev.  C.  V.  McCaig,  D.  D.,  it  resulted  in  the  en- 
dowment of  a  Professorship  of  Elocution  in  the  Seminar)'  in  the 
sum  of  $10,000  and  the  founding  of  the  Redstone  Centennial 
Scholarship  in  the  sum  of  $3,000.  Of  this  sum  $6,000  were 
contributed  by  Redstone  Presbytery — and  of  this  two  members 
of  Uniontown  Church  gave  one  half 

In  the  territory  occupied  by  Redstone  Presbytery  in  1788, 
there  are  now,  in  1888,  the  Presbyteries  of  Allegheny,  Blairs- 
ville,  Butler,  Clarion,  Erie,  Kittanning,  Pittsburgh,  Shenango, 
Washington  and  West  Va.,  in  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
Cleveland,  Mahoning,  St.  Clairs\ille  and  Steubenville,  in  the 
Synod  of  Ohio. 

The  eleven  Presbyteries  in  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania  have 
340  ministers,  32  licentiates,  58  candidates.  453  churches,  67,299 
members,  64,182  Sabbath  School  members.  The}'  gave  in  1887 
to  Home  Missions,  $57,357;  to  Foreign  Missions,  $74,654;  Edu- 
cation, $12,942;  to  Sabbath  School  work,  $7,819;    Church  Erec- 


24  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

tion,  ^10,913  ;  Relief  Fund,  ^48,984 ;  Freedmen.  ,$15,388  ;  Sus- 
tentation,  ;^3,77i ;  Aid  to  Colleges,  ;$  18,671  ;  General  Assembly, 
;$5, 398.69;  Congregational,  $574,686;  Miscellaneous,  525.000. 

The  four  Presbyteries  in  Ohio  have  126  ministers,  4  licen- 
tiates, 18  candidates,  162  churches,  24,047  members,  24,312  Sab- 
bath School  members,  and  gave  to  Home  Missions,  $25,279; 
to  Foreign  Missions,  $24,641  ;  Freedmen,  $2,756;  Sustentation, 
;^7o6;  Aid  for  Colleges,  $4,845  ;  General  Assembly,  $2,188.10; 
Congregational,  $2,035.01  ;  Miscellaneous,  $27,975.  In  1888 
Presbytery  reported  26  ministers,  34  churches,  i  licentiate,  5  can- 
didates; members,  4,239;  Sabbath  School  members,  3.989;  Home 
Missions,  $2,359.00;  Foreign  Missions,  $3,809.00;  Educational, 
$325.00;  Sabbath  School  work,  $456.06;  Church  Erection,  $1,- 
094;  Relief  Fund,  $3,353.00;  Freedmen,  $717.00;  Sustentation, 
$282.00;  Aid  for  Colleges,  $656.00;  Congregational,  $47,172.00; 
Miscellaneous,  $1,281.00.  Total,  466  ministers,  36  licentiates,  76 
candidates,  615  churches,  91,346  members,  88,494  Sabbath 
School  members,  and  gave  to  Home  Missions,  $82,606.00;  to 
Foreign  Missions,  $99,295.00;  Freedmen,  $18,184.00;  Sustenta- 
tion, $4,477;  Aid  to  Colleges,  $13,516.00;  General  Assembly, 
$758,619.00;  Congregational,  $778,187.00;  Miscellaneous,  $52,- 
975.00. 

Compare  all  this  with  the  little  band  that  was  organized  in 
1 78 1,  or  that  stood  on  the  picket  line  west  of  the  Alleghenies  in 
1788,  and  we  can  only  exclaim,  "Lo  what  hath  God  wrought." 
To  his  name  be  all  the  praise. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  25 


HISTORY  OF  CHURCHES. 


DUNLAP'S  CREEK. 


BY    REV.    H.    H.    M  MASTER. 

Dunlap's  Creek  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  in  the 
year  1774,  nearly  two  years  previous  to  the  Declaration  of  Amer- 
ican Independence,  by  Rev.  James  Power,  D.  D.  The  only 
record  known  of  its  organization  is  that  Dr.  Power  said  he  or- 
ganized it  in  September,  A.  D.,  1774.  It  comprised  sixty-one 
members  and  the  following  ruling  elders,  viz.:  Charles  Mc- 
Clean,  Andrew  Frazer,  Robert  Baird,  John  Parker,  Samuel  Ter- 
ence, David  Reeder,  Ebenezer  Finley  and  William  Frame. 

The  few  Presbyterian  families  who  had  emigrated  from  East- 
ern Pennsylvania  and  Old  Virginia  and  settled  in  this  vicinity 
were  visited  in  1765  by  Mr.  Finley,  a  member  of  New  Castle 
Presbytery.  He  was  one  of  the  first  ministers  of  the  Gospel 
who  crossed  the  Allegheny  mountains  in  quest  of  a  western  field 
of  missionary  labor.  He  first  blew  the  Gospel  trumpet  in  this 
then  unbroken  wilderness.  He  finally  settled  at  Rehoboth  and 
Round  Hill,  where  he  enjoyed  a  long  and  successful  pastorate. 
He  left  three  sons  who  became  ruling  elders  in  Rehoboth — Jo- 
seph, William  and  Michael  ;  the  eldest,  Ebenezer,  became  a 
ruling  elder  in  Dunlap's  Creek.  The  Rev.  Drs.  James  Power 
and  John  McMillan,  among  the  earliest  and  noblest  pioneers  of 
the  Presbyterian  Church,  visited  and  preached  the  Gospel  here. 
Dr.  Power  brought  his  family  here  in  the  fall  of  1776  and  preach- 
ed as  stated  supply  for  some  time,  but  finally  settled  at  Mount 
Pleasant  and  Pleasant  Unity.     The  first  installed  pastor  of  Dun- 


26  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

lap's  Creek  was  Rev.  James  Dunlap,  who  was  installed,  October 
15th,  1782,  and  continued  pastor  seven  years,  when  he  resigned 
this  branch  and  gave  all  his  time  to  Laurel  Hill.  After 
a  short  period  of  supplies  from  Presbytery,  the  Rev.  Jacob  Jen- 
nings, M.  D.,  of  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  of  New  York  and 
New  Jersey,  was  called  and  installed  as  the  second  pastor  in  1792, 
continuing  to  preach  here  and  at  Little  Redstone  until  181 1, 
when,  on  account  of  age  and  infirmity,  he  resigned  the  charge, 
but  continued  to  preach  occasionally  until  February  17th,  181 3, 
when  he  was  called  to  the  eternal  rest  and  reward  promised  by 
the  Chief  Shepherd  to  the  faithful  pastor.  He  was  a  practical 
physician  and  did  good  service  in  both  his  professions.  His 
ashes  now  rest  in  the  adjoining  cemetery. 

The  ruling  elders  during  Dr.  Jennings'  pastorate  were  Hon. 
Charles  Porter,  Ebenezer  Finley,  Sr.,  Robert  Baird,  Enoch 
French  and  George  Gallaher. 

The  third  pastor  of  Dunlap's  Creek  was  Rev.  William  John- 
ston, whose  charge  embraced  also  the  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Brownsville.  He  became  co-pastor  with  Dr.  Jennings  in  1812 
and  in  181 3  Dr.  Jennings  died  and  Mr.  Johnston  assumed  the 
pastorate,  continuing  in  that  relation  until  October  or  November, 
1839,  making  a  pastorate  of  over  twenty-six  years.  He  was 
called  to  his  reward,  December  31st,  1841.  His  dust,  with  that 
of  his  wife  and  eight  children,  rests  in  the  old  Dunlap's  Creek 
cemetery. 

Rev.  Samuel  Wilson,  D.  D.,  was  invited  to  occupy  the  pul- 
pit from  January  ist,  1840,  and  was  installed  pastor  by  "the  Pres- 
bytery of  Redstone,  November  17th,  of  the  same  year.  He 
continued  pastor  of  the  church  until  May  ist,  1869;  from  that 
time  he  supplied  the  pulpits  of  Dunlap's  Creek,  New  Salem  and 
McClellandtown,  until  June  20th,  1869,  when  he  removed  to  Illi- 
nois. For  nearly  thirty  years  he  enjoyed  a  prosperous  pastorate 
in  this  charge  and  left  many  warm  friends  behind. 

The  ruling  elders  in  1840  were  Ebenezer  Finley,  Sr.,  Hon. 
Charles  Porter,  Aaron  Baird,  George  Chalfant,  Moses  B.  Porter, 
Cephas  Porter  and  Ebenezer  Finley,  Jr.  Others  were  added 
during  Dr.  Wilson's  pastorate,  viz.:      Samuel  Linn,  Finley  Chal- 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  2/ 

fant,  James  Evving,  and  at  another  time,  Ebenezer  T.  Gallaher 
and  Joshua  V.  Gibbons;  of  these  Ebenezer  Finley,  Finley  Chal- 
fant  and  E.  T.  Gallaher,  still  remain  the  wise  and  beloved  coun- 
sellors of  this  congregation. 

The  Rev.  James  P.  Fulton  received  and  accepted  a  call  from 
this  congregation  on  November  3d,  1869,  (McClellandtown  was 
still  included  in  the  charge)  and  he  continued  pastor  until  Octo- 
ber, 1878.  During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Fulton  there  were  added 
to  the  Board  of  Elders  on  October  31st,  1875,  Messrs.  Johnston 
Vankirk  and  E.  Hayden  Baird.  When  Dr.  Wilson  resigned  in 
1869,  there  were  183  members  in  the  church  and  during  Mr.  Ful- 
ton's pastorate  of  nine  years  there  were  added  to  the  member- 
ship 157. 

On  the  I  ith  of  December,  1878,  the  congregation  of  Dun- 
lap's  Creek  made  a  call  for  the  services  of  Rev.  W.  G.  Nevin, 
and  on  March  i  ith,  1879,  he  was  installed  pastor  of  said  church 
and  continued  in  that  office  until  April  17th,  1883.  There  were 
added  to  the  membership  during  his  pastorate  thirty-two.  It 
was  a  prosperous  and  pleasant  pastorate  but  not  long.  Ill  health 
disabled  him  for  the  work  in  so  large  a  field,  which  he  resi"-ned 
for  a  less  extended  one. 

The  present  pastor  was  called  to  the  field  on  May  14th, 
1883,  and  installed  August  i6th,  of  the  same  year.  Of  the  work 
of  the  past  four  years  we  have  but  little  to  say.  During  that 
time  there  were  added  to  the  eldership  in  1885,  Messrs.  H.  W. 
Finley,  John  E.  Finley  and  Clark  B.  Campbell,  and  during  these 
four  years  past  of  the  present  pastorate  there  have  been  added  to 
the  membership  eighty-seven,  of  whom  seventy-two  were  by  pro- 
fession and  fifteen  by  letter. 

The  house  of  worship  still  occupied  by  the  congregation  of 
Dunlap's  Creek  was  built  of  stone  in  18 14  and  took  the  place  of 
the  old  log  church  which  was  erected  a  short  time  after  the  or- 
ganization of  the  congregation.  The  old  stone  church  has  un- 
dergone many  changes  in  the  past  seventy-three  years,  having 
been  several  times  repaired  and  remodeled,  but  like  all  things 
earthly  it   began  to  show  marks  of  decay.     The  tooth  of  time 


28  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

had  gnawed  much  of  the  pointing  out  of  the  wall  and  weakened 
the  roof  structure  until  it  was  no  longer  safe. 

In  the  spring  of  1887  the  people  concluded  to  honor  the 
Lord  by  making  the  dear  old  church  almost  new,  leaving  the  old 
walls  standing  as  they  were  erected  in  18 14,  only  adding  a  little 
more  to  them  by  raising  the  gables  higher  and  thus  giving  a 
more  modern  appearance  to  the  roof  They  put  up  a  new  frame 
ceiling,  renewed  the  doors  and  windows,  repainted  the  walls  and 
replaced  nearly  all  the  old  with  new  and  substantial  material,  so 
that  now  we  have  practically  a  new  house  of  worship,  and  yet  it 
is  the  Old  Stone  Church  of  Dunlap's  Creek,  re-dedicated  on  the 
25th  of  August,  1887. 

But  the  history  of  Dunlap's  Creek  would  not  be  complete 
were  we  to  make  no  mention  of  her  eldest  and  only  daughter,  the 
church  of  New  Salem.  Many  years  ago  one  of  the  good  and 
brave  elders  of  this  Church,  Ebenezer  Finley,  Sr.,  planted  a  Sab- 
bath School  in  the  little  village  of  New  Salem,  which,  by  the 
blessing  of  God,  has  became  an  important  ally  of  the  old  church. 
A  commodious  and  substantial  brick  church  was  erected,  which 
was  dedicated  in  February,  1853.  The  New  Salem  branch  has 
for  years  been  a  prosperous  and  promising  field  and  takes  hon- 
est and  commendable  pride  in  bearing  half  of  the  financial  bur- 
den of  the  Dunlap's  Creek  charge.  This  congregation,  however, 
has  not  furnished  her  quota  of  ministers  to  the  actual  work  of  the 
Lord.  We  can  only  find  a  record  of  six  from  this  large  congre- 
gation in  more  than  a  hundred  years.  To  the  work  of  those  six 
the  congregation  may  look  with  humble  pride  and  congratula- 
tion. 

It  gives  us  pleasure  to  record  that  one  of  our  brave  and  no- 
ble daughters,  Miss  Maggie  Baird,  some  three  years  ago  laid  her 
life  and  talents  upon  the  altar  of  God's  service  and  with  a  holy 
consecration  of  all  to  her  Redeemer,  went  out  to  labor  for  His 
glory  and  the  salvation  of  perishing  souls  in  our  mission  field  in 
Canton,  China.  Thus  we  have  recorded  a  few  of  the  historical 
facts  connected  with  the  rise  and  progress  of  the  Lord's  work  in 
this  part  of  his  vineyard  during  the  past  113  years.  May  the 
next  century  by  the  blessing  of  God   be  more    fruitful    of  good, 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  29 

more  honoring  to  God  and  more  blessed   in   winning   souls  into 
His  kingdom  is  the  prayer  of  your  unworthy  historian. 

[The  pastorate  of  Rev.  H.  H.  Mc Master  ended  on  the  last 
of  September,  1888,  by  his  resignation  and  removal  to  Iowa,  to 
enter  on  a  field  of  labor  in  the  bounds  of  Ft.  Dodge  Presbyter}'.] 


SEWICKLEY. 


BY    REV.    A.    W.    EMMONS. 

Sewickley  Presbyterian  Church  was  organized  by  the  Rev. 
James  Power  in  the  year.  1776 — probably  in  November — soon 
after  the  arrival  of  himself  and  family  in  Western  Pennsylvania, 
or  what  was  then  called  the  "back  woods."  Two  years  before, 
in  the  summer  of  1774,  he  had  spent  three  months  in  this  new 
country  engaged  in  missionary  work  among  the  settlers.  At 
that  time  he  frequently  preached  where  the  first  Sewickley 
church  building  was  erected,  "one  mile  and  a  half  north  of  the 
present  structure."  In  the  spring  of  1779  he  became  the  regu- 
lar pastor  of  Sewickley  and  Mt.  Pleasant  congregations.  He 
continued  the  pastor  of  these  united  congregations  until  August 
22d,  1787,  when  he  was  dismissed  from  Sewickley  Church.  Of 
the  faithfulness  of  this  servant  of  Christ  there  can  be  no  ques- 
tion. Many  who  knew  him  during  their  lives  testified  of  his 
earnest,  intelligent  presentation  of  gospel  truth  both  in  the  pul- 
pit and  the  family  circle.  At  his  regular  visits  the  children  were 
examined  in  the  Shorter  Catechism,  "and  the  young  people  and 
heads  of  families  were  examined  as  to  their  understanding  of  the 
doctrines  taught  in  the  Catechism  and  the  Scripture  Proofs"  and 
"the  whole  was  closed  with  an  address  suited  to  the  occasion  and 
with  prayer." 


30  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

After  the  retirement  of  Dr.  Power  from  this  church,  the 
pulpit  remained  vacant  for  six  years  and  two  months,  but  on 
October  i6th,  1793,  the  Rev.  Wm.  Swan  was  installed  pastor  of 
the  united  congregations  of  Sewickley  and  Long  Run,  and  la- 
bored for  twenty-five  years,  until  October  i8th,  18 18,  when  he 
resigned  his  pastoral  charge. 

"In  the  year  1804  and  for  some  years  afterwards  this  con- 
gregation was  visited  with  special  outpourings  of  the  Spirit  of 
God"  and  considerable  numbers  were  added  to  the  church. 

After  the  dismissal  of  Mr,  Swan  the  church  was  dependent 
for  preaching  upon  supplies  for  two  years  and  a  half;  but  this 
state  of  things  was  happily  terminated  in  the  spring  of  1821,  by 
the  ordination  and  installation  of  Mr.  A.  O.  Patterson,  who  on 
the  1 8th  day  of  April  began  his  labors  as  pastor  of  the  united 
congregations  of  this  church  and  Mt.  Pleasant.  This  connec- 
tion was  a  pleasant  and  a  profitable  one,  and  continued  until  Oc- 
tober 8th,  1834,  when  it  was  severed  by  the  resignation  of  Dr. 
Patterson,  because  both  churches  had  grown  so  much  that  each 
felt  able  to  support  a  pastor. 

In  April,  1836,  Sewickley  gave  a  call  to  Rev.  Wm.  Annan, 
who  was  installed  in  the  following  June;  but  owing  to  the  "weak 
and  debilitated  state  of  his  health"  he  was  compelled  to  resign 
in  April,  1838.  The  vacancy  this  time  was  short,  as  in  Decem- 
ber of  the  same  year  Rev.  J.  B.  McKee  was  installed  pastor;  he 
remained  in  this  position  for  three  years  and  six  months.  Dur- 
ing his  stay  several  members  in  the  south-eastern  part  of  the 
congregation  obtained  their  certificates.  Mr.  McKee  went  with 
them  and  organized  the  Harmony  Church,  at  Reagantown,  seven 
miles  south-east  of  Sewickley  church  building.  His  successor 
in  Sewickley  was  the  Rev.  Richard  Graham,  who  was  installed 
probably  in  the  spring  of  1845,  and  was  dismis.sed  some  time  in 
the  year  1 850.  Mr.  Graham,  although  a  man  of  some  eccen- 
tricities of  character,  was  a  fine  scholar  and  an  able  preacher,  and 
was  generally  successful  in  his  labors.  He  went  from  here  to 
the  State  of  Ohio,  where  he  died  not  long  after  leaving  Sewickley. 

After  Mr.  Graham  left.  Rev.  Watson  Hughes  supplied  the 
pulpit  for  a  time.     During  his  stay  several  members  secured  cer- 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  3  I 

tificates  from  the  church  to  organize  a  church  at  West  Newton, 
which  was  done,  January  8th,  185  i.  Mr.  Hughes  retired  with 
them  and  became  the  pastor  of  the  new  organization. 

In  1852,  Rev.  Cyrus  Riggs  became  the  pastor  and  faithfully 
preached  the  Gospel  and  taught  from  house  to  house  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Bible  until  the  tenth  day  of  April,  1861,  when  ex- 
pediency required  him  to  make  a  change  in  his  field  of  labor. 

It  was  two  and  one-half  years  before  another  minister  was 
secured;  at  the  end  of  that  time,  November  7th,  1863,  the  Rev. 
\Vm.  L.  Boyd  was  installed,  but  only  remained  pastor  until  April 
4th,  1867,  because  the  congregation  having  been  weakened  by 
the  withdrawal  of  several  members  felt  unable  to  continue  the 
payment  of  his  salary. 

The  vacancy  of  the  pulpit  this  time  lasted  a  year  and  five 
months  and  was  terminated  October  3d,  1868,  by  the  installation 
of  Rev.  J.  K.  Andrews  as  pastor;  but  this  connection  only  lasted 
until  April  26th,  1871,  when  Mr.  Andrews  severed  his  connec- 
tion with  the  church.  It  was  during  his  stay  that  the  organ  was 
introduced  into  the  church. 

Now  occurred  a  longer  vacancy,  succeeded  by  a  shorter 
pastorate  than  any  which  had  taken  place  in  the  history  of  this 
church.  For  six  years  and  seven  months  this  congregation  was 
without  the  ministrations  of  a  regular  pastor,  dependent  upon 
supplies  for  preaching;  the  most  of  these  supplies  were  good  and 
able  men  who  performed  their  duties  faithfully.  Among  them 
may  be  mentioned  Rev.  J.  H.  Stevenson,  who,  it  is  safe  to  say, 
never  neglected  a  known  duty.  Mr.  Stevenson  supplied  the  pul- 
pit for  about  one  year.  During  his  stay  he  received  about  thirty 
members,  more  than  had  been  received  by  any  minister  of  this 
congregation  in  the  same  length  of  time.  Rev.  Geo.  K.  Scott 
also  labored  for  a  time  and  received  a  call  to  become  pastor,  but, 
some  differences  arising  in  the  congregation,  the  Presbytery,  on 
meeting  to  install  him,  deemed  it  best  not  to  do  so  and  the  va- 
cancy continued. 

Rev.  \V.  G.  Nevin,  then  of  the  U.  P.  Church,  was  called. 
He  accepted  and  was  installed  pastor,  December  17th,  1877,  but 
he  only  remained   one  year,  being   dismissed,    December    24th, 


32  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

1878,  to  accept  a  call  to  the  Dunlap's  Creek  Church.  Mr.  Nevin 
is  now  pastor  of  the  church  in  Sharon,  Pa.,  and  is  favorably  re- 
membered by  the  members  of  Redstone  Presbytery.  His  suc- 
cessor was  Jacob  Ruble,  a  licentiate,  who  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled pastor  in  1880.  He  preached  faithfully,  meeting  with 
much  apparent  success  in  bringing-  souls  to  Christ,  until  October, 
1 88 1,  when  he  was  suspended  from  the  Gospel  Ministry  and 
from  membership  in  the  church  by  the  Presbytery.  Another  va- 
cancy of  two  years  now  occurred,  during  which  the  church  suf- 
ered  much  from  removals  and  death. 

On  the  nth  of  October,  1883,  the  Rev.  J.  D.  Owens  be- 
came the  pastor  of  the  church,  but  for  reasons  satisfactory  to 
himself  he  resigned,  and  was  dismissed  April  29th,  1885.  It  was 
during  his  short  stay  of  one  year  and  seven  months  that  the 
parsonage  was  built.  It  is  a  frame  building,  containing  six 
rooms,  a  pantry  and  closets,  and  is  well  arranged  for  a  small 
family.  It  stands  on  a  lot  of  about  one  and  a  half  acres  adjoin- 
ing the  church  lot. 

After  the  departure  of  Mr.  Owens  a  vacancy  of  two  years 
and  one  month  occurred.  During  this  time  the  church  was  rare- 
ly supplied  up  to  the  month  of  July,  1886,  when  Mr.  A.  W.  Em- 
mons, the  Presbyterial  Missionary,  a  licentiate,  was  engaged  to 
preach  every  other  Sabbath,  which  he  continued  to  do  until 
April  1st,  1887,  when  he  began  preaching  regularly  every  Sab- 
bath, and  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor,  May  26th,  1887. 

While  the  church  has  experienced  many  severe  trials,  which 
have  brought  it  very  low  at  times,  God  has  graciously  brought 
it  safely  through  them  all,  and  has  given  it  many  manifestations 
of  his  favor,  so  that  at  the  present  time  there  is  good  promi.se 
of  a  future  career  of  usefulness. 

The  present  membership,  as  reported,  is  one  hundred  and 
five,  but  these  figures  will  have  to  be  reduced  some  because  of 
the  removal  of  several  members.  The  Sabbath  School  has  sixty 
members  and  seems  to  be  doing  a  good  work  among  the  child- 
ren and  young  people.  A  prayer  meeting  was  established  in 
May  of  the  present  year  and  is  regularly  attended  by  from  fifteen 
to  forty  persons.     The  present  session  is  composed  of  five  mem- 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  33 

bers,  as  follows :  David  Hunter,  John  Martin,  Jacob  Edward 
Robertson,  Thomas  L.  Robertson  and  David  D.  Bair;  the  four 
last  named  were  installed,  June  26th,  1881.  The  congregation 
has  had  three  buildings  since  its  organization.  The  first  one  is 
thus  described  in  "Old  Redstone:"  "Constructed  entirely  with 
the  axe,  no  saw,  or  plane,  or  even  a  hammer  to  drive  a  nail  were 
used,  for  naiis  or  iron  in  any  shape  were  not  employed  The  roof 
was  clap-boards,  kept  in  their  places  by  logs  laid  upon  them 
and  the  doors  were  of  the  same  kind,  fastened  together  with 
wooden  pins.  The  windows  were  small  openings  cut  in  adjacent 
logs  and  glazed  with  paper  or  white  linen,  oiled  with  hog's  lard 
or  bear's  grease.  The  seats  were  logs,  cleft  in  the  middle  and 
rai.scd  a  suitable  height  on  blocks.  Such  was  the  original  house 
in  which  Dr.  Power  preached  in  Sewickley  congregation.  It 
stood  about  one  mile  and  a  half  north  of  the  present  place  of 
public  worship,  on  the  road  leading  from  Alarkle's  mill  toward 
Pittsburgh,  about  half  way  between  the  big  and  little  Scwick- 
lies." 

This  continued  to  be  the  place  of  worship  until  1787  or  af- 
ter. During  that  year  the  south  side  of  the  congregation  de- 
cided, as  they  had  a  large  majority  of  the  congregation  and  many 
of  them  many  miles  to  go,  to  build  a  house  on  the  south  side  of 
the  creek;  this  being  opposed  by  the  members  on  the  north  side, 
much  trouble  arose  and  was  the  cause  of  Dr.  Power  resigning 
his  care  of  the  congregation.  A  compromise  between  the  two 
sides  was  finally  effected  by  the  south  side  promising  to  build  a 
bridge  at  what  is  now  known  as  Bell's  mill. 

The  second  building  was  built  of  logs  and  was  about  sixty 
feet  in  length  by  thirty  in  width.  There  the  congregation  met 
and  worshiped  until  1832,  when  the  pi'cscnt  building  was  erected. 
This  being  of  stone,  si.xty  feet  long  by  forty  feet  wide  and  thirty 
feet  to  top  of  roof,  and  having  a  wall  twenty-four  inches  in  thick- 
ness, was  a  work  of  great  magnitude  in  those  days,  and  required 
the  labors  of  many  men  for  several  months.  In  the  meantime 
the  congregation  worshiped  in  the  adjoining  lot,  some  sitting  in 
a  temporary  board  tent,  in  which  the  pulpit  stood  and  others 
resting  on  the  ground  beneath  the  shade  of  large  oak  trees. 


34  PRKSBYTF.RY    OF    REDSTONE. 

The  present  building  is  in  good  condition  and  bids  fair  to 
remain  a  comfortable  place  of  worship  for  many  years  to  come. 
At  one  time,  before  the  bridge  was  built,  in  the  early  spring,  a 
heavy  rain  so  raised  the  water  that  the  creek  could  not  be  forded 
on  the  Sabbath.  Dr.  Patterson,  who  was  then  pastor,  mounted  a 
stump,  the  people  seated  themselves  on  saddles,  logs  and  stones, 
sung  God's  praise  and  listened  to  the  sermon  delivered  by  the 
faithful  ambassador  of  Christ. 


MOUNT  PLEASANT. 


BY    REV.    GEO.    P.    DONEHOO. 

In  a  paper  of  this  nature,  which  must  necessarily  be  very 
brief,  it  is  a  difficult  matter  to  know  what  to  omit.  Only  those 
events  which  serve  as  mile-stones  shall  be  pointed  out.  In 
1774,  James  Power,  a  minister  of  twenty-nine  years,  "crossed  the 
Allegheny  mountains  and  spent  three  months  in  what  are  now 
Westmoreland,  Allegheny,  Washington,  Fayette  and  Greene 
counties,  Pennsylvania."  In  1776,  probably.  Dr.  Power  moved 
with  his  family  to  Dunlap's  Creek,  near  what  is  now  Browns- 
ville. During  his  residence  at  this  place  he  occupied  himself 
with  missionary  labors,  preaching  in  the  various  settlements 
about  him  and  in  organizing  new  churches.  At  this  time  he 
probably  organized  the  church  of  Mount  Pleasant.  In  1779  he 
became  the  regular  pastor  of  the  Mount  Pleasant  and  Sewickley 
congregations.  It  was  at  this  time  that  the  settlement  of  various 
other  ministers  in  the  then  "west,"  led  to  the  formation  of  the 
"Redstone"  Presbytery,  which  was  organized  at  Pigeon  Creek, 
September  19th,  1781.  The  pastorate  of  Dr.  Power  continued 
until  1 8 17,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  infirmity  brought  on 
by  old  age.  He  remained  among  the  people  of  his  charge  until 
his  death  in  1830. 

The  two  congregations  of  Mount  Pleasant  and  Sewickley 
were  united  in  one  pastorate  under   Rev.  Andrew   O.    Patterson. 


PRE.SHVTEKV     OF     KED.STOXE.  35 

Fie  was  ordained  and  installed,  April  iSth,  1821.  He  was  a 
<^reat  worker  among  the  young  people  of  his  charge.  The  mem- 
bership of  the  united  congregations  in  1829  was  about  300.  In 
the  year  in  which  he  resigned  it  was  over  400.  While  he  was 
pastor  of  these  churches,  houses  of  worship  were  built  in  the 
towns  of  Mount  Pleasant  and  Pleasant  Unity  and  the  old  Mid- 
dle church  was  re-built.  In  1 834  Dr.  Patterson  resigned  his  charge 
to  labor  in  the  interests  of  the  Board  of  Home  Missions. 

Rev.  Samuel  Montgomery  succeeded  Dr.  Patterson  in  1835. 
In  1840,  after  the  division  of  the  General  Assembly  took  place, 
the  church  of  Mount  Pleasant  became  divided  into  the  Old  and 
the  New  School  branches.  About  tA\o-thirds  of  the  congrega- 
tion followed  Mr.  Montgomery  into  the  New  School  branch. 
This  left  about  sixty  members  and  six  elders  who  remained  in 
the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  and  the  Old  School  branch.  The 
New  School  branch  was  very  prosperous  during  this  time.  Mr. 
Montgomery  remained  its  pastor  until  1844  or  '45-  The  Old 
School  congregations  of  Mount  Pleasant  and  Greensburg  united 
in  one  charge  and  called  Mr.  James  I.  Brownson  in  1841.  He 
continued  pastor  until  December,  1848,  when  he  resigned  to  take 
charge  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Washington,  Pa.  The 
other  pastors  of  the  New  School  branch  during  the  division  were 
Rev.  Messrs.  Porter,  Cochrane  and  Sparks.  We  have  no  means  of 
finding  out  the  exact  time  when  these  men  were  at  Mt.  Pleasant. 
Rev.  John  M.  Barnett  took  charge  of  the  Old  School  branch  of 
the  congregation,  April  1st,  1862  and  resigned  October  6th,  1869. 
The  membership  at  the  beginning  of  his  pastorate  was  121  ;  fifty- 
three  were  received  on  profession  of  faith,  thirty-nine  by  letter, 
sixty-three  were  dismissed  and  twenty  died.  The  first  pastor  after 
the  reunion  in  1869  was  Rev.  John  McMillan,  D.  D.,  who  became 
pa.stor  in  April,  1870.  His  charge  consisted  of  the  re-united 
churches  of  Mt.  Pleasant  and  Plea.sant  Unity.  On  June  i6th, 
1870,  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  church  in  Mt.  Pleasant  town 
was  laid.  This  building  was  completed  on  September  ist,  1872. 
Dr.  McMillan  was  at  this  time  released  from  the  charge  of  the 
church  of  Pleasant  Unity  and  preached  at  the  Reunion  and  the 
Mt.  Pleasant  churches  on  alternate  Sundays.     April   25th,  Pres- 


36  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

bytery  in  session  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  divided  Mt.  Pleasant  church 
and  organized  Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion  church,  by  setting  over  170 
members,  and  William  B.  Neel,  William  Giffen  and  John  D.  Mc- 
Caleb,  ruling"  elders — Alexander  H.  Stricklerand  Absalom  Schall 
were  elected  deacons.  Shortly  after  this  time  the  church  of 
Mt.  Pleasant  requested  that  Dr.  McMillan  give  them  the 
whole  of  his  time,  as  did  also  the  Reunion  church.  In  1873  Pres- 
bytery dissolved  the  pastoral  relation  existing  between  Dr.  Mc- 
Millan and  the  church  of  Mt.  Pleasant  and  left  him  pastor  of  the 
Reunion  church.  At  the  beginning  of  his  labors  in  the  Mt. 
Pleasant  church  in  1 870  it  had  241  members.  Of  these  107  be- 
longed to  the  Old  School  branch  and  134  to  the  New  School. 
During  his  pastorate  126  were  received  into  the  communion  of 
the  church.  At  the  time  of  his  dismissal,  there  remained  160. 
Rev.  W.  F.  Pawing  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  this 
church  on  June  4th,  1874.  "On  the  9th  of  October,  1874,  the 
Presbyterian  church  of  Mt.  Pleasant  held  a  Centennial  celebra- 
tion commemorative  of  the  first  Presbyterian  preaching  in  the 
church  and  neighborhood.  The  adjoining  congregations  of 
Pleasant  Unity  and  the  Reunion  Memorial  church — both  daugh- 
ters of  the  Mt.  Pleasant  church — were  present  by  invitation  and 
participated  in  the  celebration."  Addresses  were  made  by  Rev. 
J.  I.  Brownson,  D.  D..  Rev.  J.  M.  Barnett,  Rev.  John  McMillan, 
D.  D.,  and  others.  Rev.  W.  F.  Ewing  resigned  in  the  spring  of 
1884  to  travel  for  the  benefit  of  his  health.  Rev.  M.  H.  Bradley 
was  installed  pastor  of  the  church,  October  7th,  1884,  and  re- 
signed in  the  spring  of  1886.  The  present  pastor,  Rev.  George 
P.  Donehoo,  was  ordained  and  installed  October  6th,  1886. 

The  members  of  the  Church  Session,  of  whom  any  record 
remains,  are  the  following:  John  Vance,  for  thirty-two  years  a 
ruling  elder;  died,  April  15th,  1845.  William  T.  NichoUs,  died 
1842.  John  Giffin,  an  elder  for  fifty  years ;  died,  October  6th, 
1854.  His  father  was  one  of  the  original  elders  of  the  church; 
his  son  also  is  an  elder.  John  Giffen,  ordained  in  1850.  John 
Hunter,  served  twenty-four  years  as  ruling  elder;  died  in  1854. 
Nathaniel  Hurst,  son-in-law  of  Dr.  Power,  was  for  fifty-five  years 
an  elder  in  the  church;  died    1861.     Hugh  Wilson,   an  elder  for 


PRESBYTERY  OF  REDSTONE.  37 

fifty-two  years ;  died  1869.  Samuel  Neel,  an  elder  for  sixteen 
years;  died  in  1862.  He  was  a  son-in-law  of  one  of  the  original 
elders  of  the  church.  James  P.  Hurst,  ordained  in  1850;  re- 
moved from  the  church  in  1863.  Robert  C.  McClain,  ordained 
in  1854;  died  in  1867.  Jesse  Hunter,  ordained  and  installed, 
May  loth,  1862.  William  B.  Neel,  ordained  and  installed,  May 
lOth,  1862.  Joseph  Jamison,  ordained  and  installed.  May  loth, 
1862.  William  Giffen,  ordained  and  installed.  May  loth,  1862. 
Jesse  Hunter  and  William  B.  Neel  are  now  elders  in  the  Re- 
union Church  of  Mt.  Pleasant;  Joseph  Jamison  and  William  Gif- 
fen are  elders  at  Pleasant  Unity.  John  Sherrick,  ordained  in 
1840;  removed  from  the  congregation  in  1886.  James  Newell, 
ordained,  December  1843.  He  is  now  an  active  member  of  the 
session.  Joshua  Evans,  ordained,  November  1858;  died,  Sep- 
tember 1 87 1.  Samuel  Hissem,  ordained,  September  1867;  died, 
January  30th,  1882.  These  three  were  elders  in  the  New  School 
branch  before  the  reunion.  Reuben  K.  Hissem,  ordained,  1882; 
now  a  member  of  the  session.  Wilson  Shields,  William  H.  Evans 
and  Abram  S.  Loucks,  were  ordained  and  installed,  March  20th, 
1887. 

The  session,  at  present,  is  composed  of  the  following  mem- 
bers, viz :  R.  K.  Hissem,  Wilson  Shields,  William  H.  Evans, 
Abram  S.  Loucks  and  James  Newell.  There  have  been  four 
church  buildings.  The  first  was  made  of  logs,  the  second  was  a 
frame  structure  and  the  last  two  have  been  of  brick.  The  pres- 
ent membership  of  the  church  is  181. 


LAUREL   HILL. 


FROM  A  HISTORICAL  SERMON  BY  REV.  JOEL  STONEROAD  AND  BROUGHT 

DOWN    TO    THE    PRESENT    TIME    BY    THE    LATE    PASTOR^ 

REV.    .S.    S.    BERGEN. 

From  the  most  reliable  sources  of  information  accessible  to 
us,  the  first  pastor  of  Laurel  Hill,  was    Rev.  James   Dunlap,  D. 


38  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

D.,  a  native  of  Chester  county,  Pa.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Prince- 
ton College  and  studied  Divinity  with  Rev.  James  Finley,  of 
East  Nottingham;  was  licensed  by  the  Presbyter}-  of  Donegal 
somewhere  between  1776  and  1 781,  and  was  settled  in  1782  as 
first  pastor  of  Laurel  Hill  and  Dunlap's  Creek.  (See  "Old  Red- 
stone," pages  301-2-3).  As  to  facts  and  dates  no  man  was  more 
likely  to  be  correct  than  the  author  of  "Old  Redstone." 

The  same  authority  informs  us  that  the  pastoral  relation  of 
Dr.  Dunlap  to  Laurel  Hill  was  dissolved  in  1803,  when  he  was 
elected  to  the  Presidency  of  Jefferson  College.  He  held  this  re- 
-sponsible  position  until  181 1,  when  he  moved  again  into  the 
Presbytery  of  Redstone,  shortly  after  which  he  was  dismissed,  at 
his  own  request,  to  the  Presbyter}-  of  Philadelphia,  with  which 
his  son  (Rev.  Wm.  Dunlap)  was  connected,  as  pastor  of  the 
church  of  Abingdon,  Pa.  With  him  he  lived  until  his  death  in 
18 18,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 

Tradition,  as  well  as  concurrent  history,  accord  to  Dr.  Dun- 
lap the  character  of  a  very  good  man  and  superior  scholarship, 
especially  in  the  classics.  It  is  said  he  could  hear  long  recita- 
tions in  Virgil  and  Homer  without  book  and  then  thoroughly 
drill  the  reciting  class  in  the  words  and  sentences,  while  walking 
to  and  fro  with  his  hands  behind  his  back.  Tradition,  moreover, 
says  that  a  very  difficult  sentence  from  one  of  the  Latin  or  Greek 
classics  had  passed  round  some  half  dozen  American  colleges, 
challenging  translation,  when  Dr.  Dunlap  took  hold  of  it  and 
promptly  disposed  of  it  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  every  one 
competent  to  pass  judgment  in  the  premises. 

It  is  also  said  that  this  excellent  and  learned  man  was  occa- 
sionally subject,  as  many  others  have  been,  to  periods  of  great 
despondency.  Take  the  following  case:  Soon  after  his  settle- 
ment at  Dunlap's  Creek,  at  the  close  of  the  forenoon  service,  af- 
ter announcing  a  second  service,  with  the  usual  intermission  and 
pronouncing  the  benediction,  he  withdrew,  under  dejection  of 
spirit,  to  his  own  house,  some  half  mile  away  from  the  church, 
where  some  of  the  elders  traced  him  and  with  great  difficult}-  and 
much  persuasion  succeeded  in  bringing  him  back  to  the  churcli, 
when  he  preached  with  more  than  usual  liberty. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  39 

VVc  have  no  authentic  record  as  to  the  general  state  of  the 
church  during  his  pastorate,  though  tradition  says  his  pastorate 
was,  in  the  main,  a  successful  one.  The  great  revival  of  1 800-1- 
2-3,  attended  with  what  was  generally  called  "the  falling  work" 
and  which  visited  so  many  parts  of  the  western  country,  was  felt, 
more  or  less,  in  the  churches  of  Dunlap's  Creek  and  Laurel  Hill. 

The  church  of  Laurel  Hill  was  probably  organized  by  Dr. 
Power  in  the  year  1776.  Such  is  the  testimony  of  "Old  Red- 
stone." There  is  not  on  record,  so  far  as  known  to  the  writer,  a 
single  shred  of  positive  testimony  giving  the  exact  year  of  its  or- 
ganization. And  where  "Old  Redstone"  speaks  with  hesitation, 
it  ill  becomes  us  to  be  positive.  But  in  a  case  of  this  sort,  un- 
contradicted tradition  ought  to  be  satisfactory,  if  not  entirely 
conclusive.  Admitting  the  chronological  ccfrrectness  of  the  fore- 
going statement,  this  year,  1876,  is  literally  and  truly  our  Cen- 
tennial year. 

Laurel  Hill  just  100  years  old!  This  reminds  us  of  a  re- 
mark made  by  the  great  Dr.  R.  J.  Breckinridge,  in  the  Assembly 
of  1866,  at  St.  Louis,  that  "one  of  the  hardest  things  in  the 
world  to  kill  is  an  Old  School  Presbyterian  Church."  Had  not 
the  Devil  been  sufficiently  chained  he  would  have  crushed  old 
Laurel  Hill  beneath  his  feet  long,  long  ago.  But  thanks  to  kind 
Heaven,  the  Devil  is  chained  by  the  power  and  Providence  of 
God;  and,  like  Bunyan's  roaring  lion,  can  but  reach  to  the  end  of 
his  chain. 

The  question  might  as  well  be  mooted  here  as  anywhere, 
viz.:  Why  was  Laurel  Hill  given  as  the  name  of  the  church  ? 
Though  we  have  no  positive  evidence  as  to  the  reason  of  the 
name,  yet,  we  doubt  not,  'tis  found  in  the  well  known  fact  that 
this  church  lOO  years  ago  was  the  only  church  near  the  great 
mountain  range  of  that  name  h'ing  to  the  east — much  nearer 
than  any  other  Presb)'terian  church.  The  churches  of  Union- 
town  and  Connellsville  had  no  existence  then,  nor  for  more  than 
half  a  century  after  that.  Laurel  Hill  and  Dunlap's  Creek  then 
may  be  regarded  as  the  mother  of  Presb)'terian  churches  in  Fay- 
ette county,  Pa.,  and  have  now  some  fifteen  ecclesiastical  daughters. 


40  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

This  is  swarming  pretty  successfully,  for  which  we  would  thank 
God  and  take  courage. 

The  first  house  of  worship  at  Laurel  Hill  was  erected  in 
1772 — a  very  plain,  rather  small  log  structure.  Subsequently  it 
was  considerably  enlarged  with  a  frame  addition.  And  then  in 
1852,  in  the  second  year  of  the  writer's  administration,  Rev.  Joel 
Stoneroad,  the  congregation  erected  the  present  very  creditable 
structure  in  which  to  worship  the  God  of  our  fathers. 

Dr.  Power,  who  organized  the  church  of  Laurel  Hill,  came 
from  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle  and  preached  as  a  licentiate 
for  a  short  season  to  the  congregations  of  Laurel  Hill,  Dunlap's 
Creek  and  others  in  the  western  country.  In  December,  1776, 
he  moved  his  family  into  the  bounds  of  this  Presbytery  and  in 
the  same  year  organized  this  church. 

The  earliest  records  of  the  church,  if  they  had  any,  being 
lost,  we  have  no  sessional  records  running  back  farther  than 
1833.  Yet,  unofficial  testimon)^  says,  that,  at  the  time  of  Dr. 
Dunlap's  settlement  at  Laurel  Hill,  in  1782,  the  elders  were  John 
Travis  and  James  Finley.  We  know-  nothing  of  them  save  the 
names.  The  first  election  of  elders,  after  Dr.  Dunlap's  settle- 
ment at  Laurel  Hill,  resulted  in  the  choice  of  James  McLean, 
Samuel  McLean,  Daniel  McLean,  John  Allen,  James  Wilkin  and 
John  Maxwell.  The  next  accession  to  the  eldership  were  James 
Parker  and  Joseph  Morrison — the  exact  time  of  their  election 
not  being  given. 

Though  we  know  but  little  of  these  men — of  some  nothing 
— they  were  doubtless  men  possessing  the  confidence  of  those 
by  whom  they  were  elected.  James  Parker,  grand- father  to 
Messrs.  James  and  W.  H.  Henshaw,  as  also  to  the  first  consort 
of  the  present  pastor  (Rev.  J.  Stoneroad),  comes  down  thus  en- 
dorsed by  tradition,  as  a  faithful  servant  of  Christ  and  His 
church. 

It  may  as  well  be  noted  here  that  it  was  under  Dr.  Dun  lap 
that  the  division  on  Psalmody  occurred  in  this  congregation. 
The  exact  time  of  this  is  not  on  record  so  far  as  known  to  us. 
On  the  introduction  of  Dr.  Watts'  Psalms  and  Hymns,  fully  one- 
third    of  the  congregation,   if  not   more,  immediately  withdrew. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  4 1 

And  to  this  day,  after  the  lapse  of  near  a  century,  proportions 
remain  much  tlie  same — save  that  the  Presbyterian  church  has 
grown  into  some  fifteen  churches — while  the  seceding  portion 
(now  U.  P.)  has  made  no  advance  whatever  in  the  number  of  its 
churches  in  P"ayette  county.  [Eds. — We  think  one  or  two  U.  P. 
churches  have  recently  been  organized.  A  church  has  been 
organized  in  Connellsville  within  a  few  years.] 

Whatever  may  be  said  of  Dr.  Dunlap's  piety,  ability  and 
learning,  tradition  does  not  give  him  much  credit  for  prudence 
and  forecast  in  this  matter  of  division.  Kindly  and  prudentlx' 
managed,  this  unhappy  division  could  and  should  have  been 
avoided.  To  thrust  Watts  upon  the  congregation  without  con- 
sulting the  views  and  sentiments  of  those  opposed  to  the  meas- 
ure was,  to  say  the  least,  inexpedient,  impolitic  and  unwise.  We 
have  a  number  of  churches  in  our  communion,  which,  to  this 
day,  continue  to  use  Rouse's  version.  And,  in  doing  so,  they 
have  the  endorsement  of  our  General  Assembly,  which  long  ago, 
authorised  the  use  of  Rouse's  version  in  all  our  churches  that 
preferred  to  use  it — and  this  endorsement  the  General  Assembly 
has  never  withdrawn.  It  seems  a  great  pity  that  so  small  a  mat- 
ter should  have  kindled  so  great  a  fire.  United,  they  could  readi- 
ly furnish  a  living  salary;  divided,  the  salary  in  both  congrega- 
tions, is  necessarily  kept,  as  nearly  as  possible,  at  starvation 
point.  In  one  way  or  other,  God  has  doubtless  accomplished 
some  good  by  this  division — how  or  what  we  cannot  say.  But 
assuredly  the  cause  of  division  is  too  weak  and  slender  to  stand 
the  full  blaze  of  millennial  glory,  and  long  ere  that  period, 
doubtless,  "Fuit  Ilium"  (Troy  has  been),  will  be  written  under- 
neath it  and  then  consigned  to  the  tomb  of  the  Capulets. 

Dr.  Dunlap  having  become  President  of  Jefferson  College  in 
1803,  on  the  1 8th  of  April,  1804,  a  call  from  the  congregations 
of  Laurel  Hill  and  Tyrone  for  the  ministerial  services  of  Re\ . 
James  Guthrie  was  lodged  in  the  hands  of  Presbytery. 

Mr.  Guthrie  was  a  native  of  Westmoreland  county,  Pa.,  a 
child  of  the  covenant,  early  renewed  by  the  Spirit  and  carefulK- 
instructed  in  the  doctrine  and  duties  of  religion.  His  mind  be- 
ing biased  in  favor  of  the  ministry,  he  entered   Dickinson  Col- 


42  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

lege,  Carlisle,  Pa.,  of  which  Charles  Nesbit,  D.  D.,  was  the  illus- 
trious President  and  graduated  with  the  last  class  from  Dickin- 
son College  during  Nesbit's  administration.  Mr.  Guthrie  studied 
Theology  with  one  of  the  pastors  of  Redstone  Presbytery,  whose 
name  we  have  not  been  able  to  learn.  There  were  no  Theologi- 
cal Seminaries  in  those  days. 

The  above  named  call  being  put  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Guth- 
rie, after  holding  it  some  six  months,  he  accepted  it  and  was  or- 
dained and  installed,  April  17th,  1805.  Rev.  George  Hill  preach- 
ed the  sermon  and  Rev.  Mr.  Henderson  presided. 

The  elders  composing  the  session  of  Laurel  Hill  when  Mr. 
Guthrie  settled  here  were  Samuel  Finley,  Samuel  McLean,  James 
Holliday,  James  McCormick  and  John  Morrison.  The  first  el- 
ders ordained  and  installed  by  Mr.  Guthrie  were  Joseph  Tor- 
rence,  James  Allen  and  Enoch  French.  The  second  addition  to 
the  session,  under  his  pastorate,  were  Patrick  Watson,  Andrew 
Wylie  and  John  Clark. 

In  1826,  D.  A.  C.  Sherrard,  Esq.  and  John  Larrimer,  were 
ordained  and  installed  ruling  elders.  In  1833,  Thomas  Grier, 
John  Morrison,  Esq.,  Samuel  A.  Russel,  Robert  Davies,  A.  C. 
Byers  and  Matthew  Byers,  were  also  ordained  and  installed  by 
Mr.  Guthrie.  Also  in  November  22d,  1844,  by  the  same,  Thom- 
as McMillan,  having  been  previously  elected  by  the  congrega- 
tion, was  duly  ordained  and  installed. 

Some  five  or  six  months  before  his  death,  Mr.  Guthrie,  feel- 
ing the  infirmities  of  age  creeping  upon  him,  suggested  to  the 
session  to  make  out  a  call  for  the  ministerial  services  of  Rev. 
Joel  Stoneroad,  then  pastor  of  Cross  Roads  Church,  Presbytery 
of  Washington,  Pa.,  to  become  co-pastor  with  Mr.  Guthrie.  To 
this  proposition  Mr.  Stoneroad  acceded,  a  relation  both  pleasant 
and  cordial,  but  of  very  short  duration,  as  Mr.  Stoneroad  was  in- 
stalled co-pastor,  June  6th,  1850,  and  Mr.  Guthrie  departed  this 
life,  August  24th,  1850,  thus  making  the  co-pastorate  not  quite 
three  months  duration.  Mr.  Guthrie  died  as  he  lived  and  enter- 
ed into  rest. 

Mr.  Stoneroad  continued  to  be  pastor  of  the  two  congrega- 
tions of  Laurel  Hill  and  Tyrone  until  1861,  when,  owing  to  the 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  43 

cxtensiv^e  territory  of  tlie  combined  charge,  the  difficulty  of 
crossing  a  river  without  a  bridge  and  the  fact  that  Laurel  Hill 
proposed  to  take  the  whole  of  the  pastor's  time,  paying  the  sal- 
ary of  both  congregations,  Mr.  Stoneroad,  with  consent  of  Pres- 
bytery, relinquished  his  charge  of  Tyrone  and  gave  all  his  time 
to  Laurel  Hill. 

During  Mr.  Stoneroads  first  year  as  pastor  of  both  congre- 
gations, the  additions  on  examination,  at  Laurel  Hill,  were  twen- 
ty-six— not  at  one  time,  but  at  two  or  three  communion  seasons. 
The  next  year  there  were  ten  on  examination,  the  next  ten  and 
the  next  fifteen.  We  cannot  say  what  were  the  additions  in  the 
same  period  at  Tyrone,  as  we  have  not  the  records  before  us, 
though  the  presumption  is  that  it  would  nearly  equal  that  of 
Laurel  Hill.  After  the  first  four  years  the  additions  varied  con- 
siderabl}^,  but  were  generally  less  up  to  the  year  1870,  when 
twenty-four  were  added  on  examination  at  one  time.  In  1851 
the  membership  was  about  136  and  shortly  after  rose  to  150;  but 
owing  to  fewer  additions  for  some  years  past,  with  at  least  the 
usual  number  of  deaths  and  dismissions,  the  membership  does 
not  now  probably  exceed  140. 

The  first  election  for  elders  under  Mr.  Stoneroad's  pastorate 
occurred  in  April,  185  i,  which  resulted  in  the  choice  of  James 
Stewart,  John  Clark,  Wm.  H.  Haslett  and  James  Allen,  who 
were  ordained  and  installed  by  the  pastor,  April,  185 1.  The  next 
addition  to  the  session  took  place  in  the  fall  of  1 866,  when  the 
following  persons  were  elected,  viz.:  Wm.  Bryson,  Robert  H. 
Smith,  James  Curry,  Sr.,  James  Henshaw,  Thomas  G.  Sherrard 
and  Samuel  Watson.  The  two  last  named  refu.sed  to  serve;  the 
other  four  were  ordained  and  installed  ruling  elders  by  the  pas- 
tor in  the  church  of  Laurel  Hill. 

We  have  thus  endeavored  to  give  a  brief  histor)-  of  the 
church  of  Laurel  Hill  from  the  beginning,  chiefly  statistical,  of 
course,  and  on  that  account  dry.  The  general  character  of  its 
membership  was  of  the  type  impressed  on  the  Presbyterianism 
of  Western  Pennsylvania,  viz.:  Solid,  intellectual,  evangelical. 
True,  indeed,  this  general  rule  has  many  exceptions,  yet  con- 
trasted in  these  particulars  with  other  denominations,  the  Presby- 


44  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

terian  church  need  not  hang  her  head.  Yet  we  have  no  reason 
to  boast  (God  forbid),  but  the  strongest  reason  for  self-abasement 
and  humihation.  And  whatever  has  been  auspicious  in  the  gen- 
eral character  of  our  educational  and  religious  institutions  in 
Western  Pennsylvania,  has  been  largely  influenced  by  the  Pres- 
byterian element  pervading  our  population.  This  is  emphatically 
true  in  the  matter  of  education,  scientific,  linguistic  or  theologi- 
cal. The  war-whoop  of  the  savage  had  scarcely  died  away 
along  the  banks  of  the  Chartiers,  when  McMillan  began  to  lay 
the  foundations  of  Jefferson  College  and  taught  its  pupils  to 
sing :     "  Tityre,  tti  patiilae  rccubans  subtegumine  fagir 

Having  thus  briefly  noticed  Dr.  Dunlap,  the  first  pastor  of 
Laurel  Hill,  with  some  of  his  excellencies  and  eccentricities,  we 
pass  to  notice  in  a  similar  way  the  second  pastor.  Rev.  James 
Guthrie.  As  the  name  indicates,  he,  too,  was  of  Scotch-Irish  ori- 
gin and  inherited  its  usual  characteristics,  marked,  perhaps,  with 
an  occasional  exuberance  of  spirits,  enabling  him  to  enjoy  a  good 
joke  and  a  hearty  laugh.  His  social  qualities  were  rather  re- 
markable, making  him  quite  acceptable  to  any  society  in  which 
duty  called  him  to  move. 

Mr.  Guthrie  was  four  times  married.  His  first  wife  was  a 
daughter  of  Joseph  Torrence,  one  of  the  first  elders  installed  by 
him  and  of  whom  we  have  already  spoken,  by  whom  he  had  but 
one  son,  long  since  deceased.  His  second  wife  was  Miss  Gal- 
lagher, of  Dunlap's  Creek,  with  an  issue  of  five  children,  two 
sons  and  three  daughters,  who  have  all  long  since  deceased,  save 
one,  who  was  long  since  a  member  of  Laurel  Hill,  but  recently 
on  the  score  of  proximity,  of  Dunbar,  Pa.  His  third  wife  was 
the  widow  Hunter,  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  Pa.,  who  lived  a  very  short 
time  and  died  without  issue.  His  fourth  wife  was  the  widow 
Heeson,  of  Uniontown,  at  that  time  a  member  of  the  writer's 
charge  and  whose  marriage  with  Mr.  Guthrie  he  solemnized  of 
course.  When  a  widower  the  third  time  and  manifestly  in  search 
of  a  fourth  wife,  the  writer  told  him  he  knew  a  lady  in  his  charge 
(Uniontown)  that  would  suit  him  well,  but  doubted  if  he  could 
get  her  and  on  hearing  the  name  he  remarked  he  might  try.  He 
did  try  and  succeeded.     And  as   evidence  of  his  fondness  for  a 


PKESI5VTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  45 

joke,  as  soon  as  the  ceremony  was  over  he  reached  out  the  usual 
fee  to  the  officiating  minister,  which,  of  course,  was  promptly  re- 
fused, when,  with  a  hearty  laugh,  he  said:  "Dog  don't  eat  dog." 
And  wlien  twitted,  as  he  occasionally  was,  with  having  his  fourth 
wife,  he  would  promptly  answer:  "If  I  should  lose  the  fourth  I 
would  seek  a  fifth."  And  personal  acquaintance  with  one  of 
them,  as  well  as  tradition,  agree  in  saying  his  wives  were  all  pru- 
dent, pious,  excellent  women. 

One  of  the  first  elders,  as  we  have  seen,  that  Mr.  Guthrie  or- 
dained and  installed  was  Joseph  Torrence,  a  man  of  mark  in  his 
day,  and  for  many  years  clerk  of  session.  Mr.  Torrence  reared 
a  large  and  respectable  family,  one  of  whom  became  Judge  Tor- 
rence, of  Cincinnati,  whose  descendants  there  are  numerous,  in- 
telligent, wealthy  and  greatly  respected,  many  of  them  being 
connected  with  the  church  of  their  fathers.  The  same  is,  in  a 
measure,  true  of  his  posterity  in  the  line  of  the  Millers  and  Tor- 
rences,  of  Allegheny  and  Fayette  counties,  Pa.  Want  of  space 
forbids  any  special  notice  of  man}'  excellent  men  in  the  eldership 
during  the  Centennial  past.  Those  elders,  with  many  others, 
like  those  of  Hebrews  II,  "all  obtained  a  good  report"  when 
living,  died  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  entered  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  Heaven.  There  can  be  nothing  invidious  in 
the  statement  that  of  the  class  of  elders  ordained  in  1833  ^^^ 
held  a  most  prominent  position  for  usefulness  as  an  officer  of  the 
church.  A  gentleman  by  nature,  of  unequivocal  piety,  portly 
presence  and  strong  common  sense,  he  was  emphatically  a  pillar 
in  the  church  and  his  loss  was  most  deeply  felt. 

And  still  there  lingers  with  us  one  elected,  ordained  and  in- 
stalled in  1826,  completing  this  year  his  semi-centennial  of  fifty- 
years  in  the  eldership  of  Laurel  Hill,  a  venerable  patriarch  of 
ninety  years,  calmly  waiting  an  invitation  to  go  up  higher.  I 
mean  D.  A.  C.  Sherrard,  Esq., — having  lived  through  three  gen- 
cration.s — himself  the  only  relic  of  his  own  generation  left 
among  us.  May  his  last  be  his  best  days  and  in  the  time  ap- 
pointed may  he  rest  in  peace.  I  must  here  be  permitted  to  say 
that  having  been  some  forty-six  years  in  the  ministry  and  of 
course  somewhat  largely  acquainted  with    the   eldership  of  the 


46  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

Presb}'terian  church,  they  constitute  as  a  class,  one  of  the  purest, 
most  intelHgent  and  conscientious  body  of  men  to  be  found  on 
the  globe  and  that  their  influence  in  church  and  state  is  most  fa- 
vorably and  widely  felt.  (Elder  D.  A.  C.  Sherrard  died  June  3d, 
1880,  in  the  ninety-fourth  year  of  his  age  and  fifty-fourth  year  as 
elder  of  Laurel  Hill  S.  S.  B.) 

We  have  thus  given  a  brief  history  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  of  Laurel  Hill,  the  best  we  can  do  from  the  material  ac- 
cessible to  us.  The  sessional  records  run  back  to  1833,  previous 
to  which  no  minutes  of  session  seem  to  have  been  kept,  or  if  kept 
are  now  utterly  lost.  In  November,  1840,  session  thought  it  high 
time  to  prepare  a  brief  history  of  the  church  and  from  the  sources 
of  information  accessible  to  them  compiled  substantially  the  his- 
tory you  have  just  read  relative  to  the  first  pastor.  Dr.  Dunlap, 
and  the  first  elders,  John  Travis  and  Samuel  Finley,  and  thence 
down  to  1833,  from  which  time  to  the  present  we  have  the  regu- 
lar minutes  of  the  session.  In  the  foregoing  history  there  is,  we 
acknowledge,  a  comparative  dearth  of  incident,  which  is  charac- 
teristic of  the  great  majority  of  real  congregations.  But  our 
business  now  is  not  to  make  history  but  to  write  it. 

A  fact  here  I  prefer  not  to  write,  but  which,  if  omitted,  would 
leave  the  history  of  the  congregation  imperfect,  is  this:  that 
though  the  salary  twenty-six  years  ago  was  the  usual  sum  of 
$500,  this  congregation  did  not,  as  was  generally  done,  raise  the 
salary  as  the  price  of  living  rose.  This  would  have  been  clearly 
just,  and  because  just  and  not  done,  may  not  God  have  had  a 
controversy  with  the  congregation,  withholding  His  Spirit  be- 
cause they  bring  not  "the  tithes  into  the  store  house?"  But 
the  opposite  course :  bringing  "the  tithes  into  the  store  house," 
that  is  fully  supporting  the  Gospel,  "will  open  you  the  windows 
of  Heaven  and  pour  you  out  a  blessing  that  there  shall  not  be 
room  enough  to  receive  it."  True,  indeed,  occasional  showers 
and  frequent  mercy  drops  from  Heaven  have  in  times  past  visited 
the  congregation,  but  not  those  copious  outpourings  of  the  Spirit 
that  sometimes  descend  upon  more  liberal  congregations.  "The 
liberal  soul  shall  be  made  fat  and  he  that  watereth  shall  be  water- 


PRKSBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  47 

ed  also  himself."  Fidelity  to  truth  and  history  requires  that  this 
statement,  however  unpleasant,  be  recorded. 

It  is  not  out  of  place  here  to  say,  what  can  be  said  of  but  few- 
congregations  lOO  years  old,  that  we  have  had  but  three  pastors 
averaging  thirtj'-three  and  a  half  years  each.  Whether  more 
frequent  changes  in  the  pastorate  would  have  proven  beneficial 
or  otherwise,  must,  of  course  be  left  to  individual  decision. 

(Prepared  by  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad  in  the  year  1876,  the 
centennial  of  Laurel  Hill's  existence  as  a  church.) 


.SUPPLE.MENT    TO    THE    HISTORY    OF    LAUREL    HILL    CHURCH, 
BY    REV.    S.    S.    BERGEN,    OCTOBER,     1 887. 

Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad,  author  of  the  previous  part  of  this  his- 
tory, was  ordained  as  pa.stor  of  Laurel  Hill  Church  in  June, 
1850,  and  continued  to  hold  this  position  until  near  the  close  of 
the  year  1878,  a  little  over  twenty-eight  years.  He  resigned  in 
the  spring  of  that  year,  but  was  still  acting  as  Moderator  of  the 
session  late  in  the  fall.  Feeling  the  infirmities  of  age  creeping 
upon  him,  he  resigned  his  charge  and  spent  the  few  remaining 
years  of  his  life  in  his  home,  near  the  village  of  Dunbar,  quietly 
waiting  the  summons  to  come  up  higher.  It  was  hard  for  him 
to  give  up  the  active  duties  of  the  ministry  and  spend  so  many 
years  in  apparent  idleness,  but  such  seems  to  have  been  the 
Lord's  will.  I  am  well  satisfied  it  would  have  been  a  great  re- 
lief to  his  mind  and  satisfactory  to  a  large  majority  of  the  con- 
gregation, if  he  had  had  a  co-pastor  and  had  been  permitted 
to  preach  whenever  he  felt  able.  But  for  some  two  or  three 
years  before  his  death  he  was  too  feeble  for  any  public  effort, 
though  not  confined  to  his  bed.  He  died  August  nth,  1884, 
and  was  followed  to  his  final  resting  place  in  Laurel  Hill  grave- 
yard, mourned  by  the  whole  congregation  and  hosts  of  other 
friends.  His  memory  is  still  precious  in  every  household  in 
Laurel  Hill  congregation.     Truly,  "he  being  dead,  yet  speaketh." 

Mr.  Stoneroad  was  of  German  descent  and  was  born  near 
Lewi.stown,  Mifflin  county.  Fa.,  January  2d,  1806.     He  graduated 


48  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

at  Jefferson  College,  Pa.,  in  1827  and  studied  theology  in  the 
Theological  department  or  Seminary  of  Princeton  College,  New- 
Jersey,  taking  the  full  three  years'  course  and  receiving  a  diplo- 
ma. His  ministry  covered  a  period  of  nearly  fifty  years.  After 
a  short  service  under  commission  from  the  Board  of  Domestic 
Missions,  he  was  pastor  of  the  church  in  Uniontown,  F'ayette 
county,  Pa.,  for  eleven  years  and  afterward  of  the  Cross  Roads 
Church,  Florence,  Washington  County,  Pa.,  for  eight  years  and 
then  of  Laurel  Hill  for  twenty-eight  years.  He  was  a  devout 
student  of  God's  word.  As  Rev.  L.  Y.  Graham,  who  was  for 
many  years  intimately  associated  with  him,  testified  at  his  funeral, 
he  was  eminently  Pauline  in  his  theology  and  was  exceedingly 
conscientious  in  his  ministrations  in  the  pulpit  and  out  of  it. 
The  weather  was  never  severe  enough  to  keep  him  from  his  ap- 
pointments or  to  prevent  him  from  visiting  the  sick  and  dying. 
On  one  occasion  one-third  of  his  congregation  was  converted  as 
the  result  of  his  preaching,  but  only  three  persons  were  present. 
As  one  of  the  resolutions  passed  by  the  congregation  at  the  time 
of  his  resignation  declares,  he  literally  wore  himself  out  in  the 
service  of  the  Master. 

Mr.  Stoneroad  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  to  whom 
he  was  married,  September  i  ith,  1832,  was  Miss  Rebecca,  daugh- 
ter of  David  Veech,  of  Greene  county.  Pa.,  by  whom  he  had  two 
daughters,  the  elder  being  the  wife  of  Rev.  T.  P.  Speer,  of  Woos- 
ter,  Ohio,  and  the  younger,  Miss  Sarah  Louisa  Stoneroad,  who 
resides  with  her  sister.  His  second  wife,  to  whom  he  was  mar- 
ried, June  27th,  1854,  was  Miss  Hannah,  daughter  of  Col.  James 
Paull,  of  Fayette  county.  Pa.  Of  this  union  are  four  children — 
James  Paull,  now  in  New  Mexico ;  Thomas  Lewis,  a  graduate  of 
LaFayette  College,  accidentally  drowned  a  few  years  ago  ;  Miss 
Mary  Belle,  at  home  and  Joel  T.  M.,  lately  attending  Wooster 
University,  Ohio.  Mrs.  Stoneroad,  sometime  after  Mr.  S.'s  death, 
moved  to  Wooster,  Ohio,  where  she  still  resides. 

For  the  first  few  months  of  the  year  1879,  Rev.  J.  P.  Ful- 
ton, for  eleven  years  pastor  of  Dunlap's  Creek  and  McClelland- 
town,  acted  as  supply.  During  his  ministration,  as  the  result  of 
a  series  of  meetings  held  in  the    Laurel  Hill   church  and  la.sting 


PRESBVTERV     OF    REDSTONE.  49 

for  several  weeks,  quite  a  number  were  added  to  the  church  and 
the  church  members  were  very  much  revived.  The  minutes 
show  that  during  his  short  stay  with  the  church  over  thirty  were 
added  on  examination.  After  supplying  the  church  for  a  few 
months  against  the  wisli  of  the  congregation,  he  moved  west,  to 
Kansas,  where  is  still  living  and  serving  the  Master.  The  report 
comes  back  that  he  has  become  wealth)-,  but  we  are  sure  that  it 
is  not  by  preaching. 

For  a  few  months  after  Mr.  Fulton  left,  the  congregation 
made  the  mistake,  so  often  made  by  congregations  in  these  days, 
of  listening  to  various  candidates.  In  September,  1879,  becom- 
ing tired  of  this  and  being  well  satisfied  with  his  ministerial  qual- 
ifications, &c.,  the  congregation  called  to  the  pastorate  Rev^  R. 
R.  Gailey,  then  and  for  several  years  before,  pastor  of  Little 
Redstone  Church,  in  the  same  Presbytery.  According  to  the 
records  he  was  installed,  September  12th,  1879,  and  remained 
pastor  until  April  i.st,  1882.  Then,  at  his  own  request,  he  was 
dismissed  to  the  Steubenville  Presbytery,  within  the  bounds  of 
which  he  still  lives  and  labors. 

Before  the  fires  went  out  in  the  house  now  occupied  as  a 
parsonage,  the  present  pastor  (Rev.  S.  S.  Bergen),  invited  by  the 
congregation  to  supply  the  pulpit  for  a  few  months,  moved  in. 
After  preaching  for  some  two  months  as  supply,  he  was  called  to 
the  pastorate  and  installed,  August  12th,  1882. 

Of  the  elders  ordained  and  installed  in  1866,  Messrs.  Wm. 
Bryson,  Robert  H.  Smith  and  James  Curry,  Sr.,  were  still  living 
and  serving  at  the  time  Mr.  Stoneroad  resigned  in  1878.  Also. 
Mr.  John  Wright,  formerly  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church 
of  Monongahela  City,  was  received  into  the  church  of  Laurel 
Hill  and  elected  a  ruling  elder  in  July,  1864.  James  Henshaw, 
ordained  and  installed  in  1866,  died  October  22d,  1878.  He  was 
a  godly  man,  having  the  confidence  of  the  whole  congregation 
and  died  as  he  lived.  He  was  a  great  sufferer,  dying  with  can- 
cer, but  bore  it  with  Christian  fortitude.  Two  of  his  children,  a 
son  and  daughter,  still  serve  the  Master  in  the  old  church. 
James  Curry,  Sr.,  died  March  2d,  1883,  during  the  present  pas- 
torate.    He  was  permitted  to  serve  in   the   eldership  the  Master 


50  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

whom  he  loved  for  seventeen  years.  Five  children,  two  sons  and 
three  daughters  survive  him.  two  of  whom,  a  son  and  daughter, 
still  serve  the  Master  in  the  old  church.  One  daughter  lives  in 
New  Haven,  Pa.,  and  the  other  two  are  in  the  far  west.  Wm. 
Bryson,  Robert  H.  Smith  and  John  Wright  are  still  acting  ruling 
elders  at  Laurel  Hill. 

On  April  13th,  1878,  Messrs.  Joseph  Reiner,  George  Yeag- 
ley,  and  T.  H.  Smith  were  ordained  and  installed  as  elders.  On 
November  i.st,  1885,  Messrs.  Jesse  A.  Oglevie  and  John  John- 
son, having  been  previously  chosen  by  the  congregation  as 
ruling  elders,  were  ordained  and  installed.  August  15th,  1886, 
Mr.  Henry  Cook,  formerly  an  elder  in  the  Little  Redstone  church, 
was  installed  at  Laurel  Hill.  In  January,  1881,  Mr.  Joseph 
Reiner  was  dismissed  to  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Morgan- 
town,  West  Va.,  where  he  still  lives  and  serves  his  Master  as  an 
elder. 

During  the  latter  years  of  Mr.  Stoneroad's  pastorate,  in 
1877,  preaching  having  been  kept  up  in  a  school  house  near  the 
foot  of  the  mountains  for  many  years,  a  house,  30x40,  was  built 
and  named  Bethel  Chapel.  In  this  house  there  has  been  regular 
service  nearly  every  other  Sabbath  afternoon  or  evening  since.  This 
chapel  is  some  four  miles  from  the  church.  In  August,  1885, 
during  the  present  pastorate,  another  chapel,  some  six  or  seven 
miles  on  the  opposite  side  of  Laurel  Hill,  size  30x44,  was  dedi- 
cated and  named  Stoneroad  Chapel,  in  honor  of  Rev.  Joel  Stone- 
road,  so  long  pastor  of  Laurel  Hill.  Here  services  are  kept  up 
regularly  on  alternate  Sabbath  afternoons  or  evenings.  In  the 
year  before  Stoneroad  Chapel  was  built,  1884,  Laurel  Hill 
Church  was  repaired  at  an  expense  of  about  $500.  Bethel 
Chapel  was  also  repaired  in  the  same  year. 

The  church  of  Laurel  Hill,  in  all  her  history,  extending  over 
a  period  of  about  1 1 1  years,  has  never  had  a  home  for  her  pas- 
tor. Fathers  Guthrie  and  Stoneroad  owned  homes  of  their  own. 
Since  that  the  pastor  has  been  compelled  to  live  in  a  rented  house, 
which  would  be  a  smaller  matter  if  it  were  near  the  church.  In 
the  estimation  of  the  writer  and  of  many  others  both  in  and  out 
of  the  congregation,  a  parsonage,  convenient  to  the  church,  is  the 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  5I 

one  thing  needed,  so  far  as  material  things  arc  concerned,  to  add 
to  the  comfort  and  efficiency  of  the  pastor  and  to  make  Laurel 
Hill  Church  a  very  desirable  charge  to  one  who  is  not  afraid  of 
hard  work  in  the  Master's  service.  In  the  language  of  one  of 
her  elders,  now  waiting  the  summons  of  the  Master:  "With  a 
congregation  scattered  o\er  a  territory  ten  b\-  fourteen  miles, 
with  over  a  hundred  families  to  shepherd,  with  three  places  of 
preaching,  involving  a  ride  of  from  ten  to  fourteen  miles  every 
Sabbath,  it  is  as  little  as  the  congregation  can  do  to  thus  (b\- 
erection  of  parsonage)  make  the  work  as  light  for  the  pastor  as 
possible."' 

The  first  statistical  record  of  number  of  members  that  we 
have  been  able  to  find  is  in  April,  1881,  when  the  number  given 
is  153.  At  the  time  Mr.  Fulton  ceased  his  labors  it  probabK- 
numbered  as  many  as  i6o,  but  during  Mr.  Galley's  pastorate  a 
number  of  families  sold  out  and  moved  away,  as  the  result  of  the 
coal  excitement.  By  this  means  the  church  was  very  much 
weakened.  Since  that  there  has  been  a  gradual  increase,  the 
membership  last  April  being  187.  A  goodly  proportion  of  this 
increase  is  due  to  the  comparatively  new  work  at  Stoneroad 
Chapel,  though  the  additions  at  Laurel  Hill  from  \ear  to  year 
have  been  gratifying.  There  has  been  no  revival  since  the  begin- 
ning of  the  present  pastorate,  and  yet  few  communion  seasons 
have  passed  without  additions,  for  which  we  are  devoutly  thank- 
ful. 

While  the  church  has  been  growing  in  numbers  it  has  also 
been  growing  in  liberality.  During  Mr.  Galley's  and  the  present 
pastorate,  the  complaint  made,  and  no  doubt  justly,  in  the  previ- 
ous part  of  this  history,  on  the  question  of  salary,  would  not 
hold  good.  The  salary  has  been  nearer  what  it  ought  to  be 
and  ever}-  year  it  is  paid  with  increasing  promptness.  But  in  the 
benevolent  work  of  the  church  the  result  is  especially  gratif}ing. 
The  year  closing  April,  1881,  the  whole  amount  contributed  to 
the  benevolent  work  of  the  church  was  $221.  Year  by  year 
there  has  been  a  gratifying  increase  until  last  year  it  became 
^5385.  And  still  there  is  great  room  for  improvement.  A  part 
of  this   increase   in   benevolent  contributions,  is  due  to  the  Wo- 


52  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

man's  Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  which  last  year  gave 
some  ^50  to  Home  and  Foreign  Missions,  and,  besides,  made  up 
a  box  for  a  family  under  the  care  of  the  Board  of  Ministerial  Relief 
worth  ^25,  and  to  the  Sabbath  School,  which  gave  $50  to  Home 
and  Foreign  Missions.  When  we  reach  the  measure  of  our  abil- 
ity and  thus  the  measure  of  the  Lord's  requirement,  in  that  de- 
gree will  the  Lord,  I  believe,  open  the  windows  of  Heaven  and 
pour  out  to  us  of  every  spiritual  blessing.  The  Lord  loves  a  cheer- 
ful giver,  and  whom  he  loves  he  will  certainly  bless.  There  is  a 
reflex  influence  in  giving,  that,  while  it  should  not  be  the  only 
motive,  should  not  be  overlooked. 

May  the  Lord  add  many  centuries,  if  He  delay  His  coming 
so  long,  to  the  history  of  old  Laurel  Hill  Church,  and  gather 
hundreds  through  her  that  will  shine  as  stars  forever  and  ev^er. 


TYRONE. 


BY    REV.    JOSEPH    L.    HUNTER. 

The  first  settlers  of  Tyrone  township  were  Scotch-Irish.  In 
the  midst  of  these  the  Tyrone  Presbyterian  Church  was  organ- 
ized. In  the  year  1774  Rev.  James  Power  visited  this  region 
and  all  available  records  point  to  the  fact  that  he  organized  this 
church  about  that  time.  In  October,  1776,  he  moved  from  the 
East  to  Dunlap's  Creek  and  from  that  time  on  preached  frequent- 
ly at  Tyrone.  Barnett  Cunningham  and  James  Torrence  were 
ordained  elders  by  him,  not  later  than  1776  and  probably  two 
years  earlier.  In  the  year  1784  he  preached  one-fourth  part  of 
his  time  at  Tyrone.  The  next  record  we  have  is,  that  in  1793 
Tyrone  was  vacant.     All  the  pastoral  care  this  church   received 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  53 

for  the  first  twenty-eight  or  thirty  years  was  given  it  by  Dr.  Pow- 
er. The  next  minister  was  Dr.  James  Dunlap,  who  was  Stated 
Supply  for  an  unknown  period,  prior  to  1803. 

Rev.  James  Guthrie  was  the  first  installed  pastor.  He  was  a 
native  of  Westmoreland  county,  small  of  stature  and  of  a  ner- 
vous temperament.  He  divided  his  time  between  Tyrone  and 
Laurel  Hill,  where  he  was  ordained,  April  17th,  1805.  He  Avas 
four  times  married,  twice  to  daughters  of  his  elders.  He  was 
pastor  of  three  churches  a  little  over  fifty  years.  On  the  5th  of 
June,  1850,  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad  was  installed  as  co-pastor  over 
the  two  churches.  Mr.  Guthrie  died  within  three  months  after 
this  and  Mr.  Stoneroad  became  sole  pastor  until  1864,  when  he 
resigned  his  pastoral  charge  over  Tyrone  and  gave  his  whole 
time  to  Laurel  Hill.  About  this  time  the  church  enjoyed  for  a 
short  time  the  ministerial  services  of  Rev.  George  Paull,  a  licen- 
tiate under  appointment  as  a  Foreign  Missionary.  On  the  ist 
Monday  of  June,  1864,  Rev.  W.  L.  Boyd,  then  pastor  of  Sewick- 
ley  Church,  was  installed  over  Tyrone  for  one-third  of  his  time. 
Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad  preached  the  sermon.  Rev.  W.  F.  Hamilton 
presided  and  charged  the  pastor  and  Rev.  N.  H.  G.  Fife  charged 
the  people.  This  pastorate  was  a  period  of  growth  in  the  con- 
gregation and  continued  for  three  years. 

From  1867  to  1871  another  vacancy  occurred,  during  which 
time  the  church  had  occasional  supplies.  On  the  27th  of  July. 
1 87 1,  Rev.  Thos.  S.  Parke  was  installed  over  Tyrone  and  Har- 
mony, a  relation  which  lasted  until  1875.  When  Mr.  Parke  left, 
Rev.  J.  H.  Stevenson  became  pastor  and  continued  to  exercise 
the  duties  of  his  office  among  us  until  the  fall  of  1883.  It  was 
during  the  time  of  his  pastorate  that  the  church  of  Dawson  was 
dissolved  and  the  membership  added  to  Tyrone. 

From  1883  to  1885,  Rev.  N.  G.  White  acted  as  Stated  Sup- 
ply. The  next  two  years  the  church  was  almost  entirely  with- 
out supplies,  having  had  but  four  days' preaching  in  all  that  time. 
As  might  be  supposed,  there  was  very  little  spiritual  life  remain- 
ing at  the  end  of  that  time.  But  during  the  "week  of  prayer," 
commencing  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  January,  1888,  there  was  a 
gracious  awakening.     Mr.  Wm.  ¥.  Gault,  the  only  elder  left  in 


54  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

the  church  began  a  series  of  meetings  which  lasted  twenty-four 
days  and  resulted  in  the  conversion  of  twenty-four  souls.  One 
peculiarity  of  the  meetings  was  that  they  were  conducted  mainl}- 
by  Mr.  Gault  himself,  without  any  ministerial  assistance  ;  the)' 
were  brought  to  a  close  only  when  this  faithful  elder  was  worn 
out  and  all  within  reach  had  been  brought  into  the  fold  of  Christ. 
Such  is  the  poAver  of  God's  Spirit  if  man  will  only  do  his  part. 
The  church  now  revived  and  awakened,  determined  to  call  a  pas- 
tor. Accordingly  on  May  8th,  1888,  Mr.  Joseph  L.  Hunter  was 
ordained  and  installed  pastor  over  the  united  churches  of  Tyrone 
and  Dawson.  The  meeting  which  ordained  Mr.  Hunter  was  the 
first  meeting  of  Presbytery  ever  held  at  Tyrone.  Mr.  Wm.  Lint 
was  elected  a  ruling  elder  and  installed  on  the  24th  of  the  follow- 
ing June.  The  church  at  that  time  had  two  elders,  viz.:  Mr. 
Gault  and  Mr.  Lint;  a  membership  of  seventy-one  and  a  Sab- 
bath School  in  a  flourishing  condition.  Of  the  different  houses 
of  worship,  something,  perhaps,  ought  to  be  said.  The  first  two 
houses  were  made  of  logs,  the  last  being  an  improvement  on  the 
first  in  being  constructed  of  hewn  logs.  On  the  4th  of  June, 
1852,  a  brick  house  was  erected  and  dedicated  to  the  worship  of 
God,  but  on  account  of  a  bad  foundation  the  congregation  did 
not  enjoy  it  long.  This  building  soon  gave  way  and  on  the  4th 
of  May,  1873,  the  present  substantial  brick  structure  was  dedi- 
cated and  set  apart  for  religious  worship.  The  church  has  had 
in  all  twenty-five  elders,  viz. :  Barnett  Cunningham  and  James 
Torrence,  the  original  elders  of  the  organization ;  the  first  died, 
September  13th,  1808;  the  latter  died,  May  12th,  1826,  having 
served  in  the  eldership  for  fifty  years.  The  next  in  order  are 
Robert  Smith,  James  Goudy,  John  Cummings,  John  Cooly,  Wm. 
Huston,  .son  of  Col.  Joseph  Huston  ;  Frank  Vance,  Wm.  Smith, 
Jo.seph  H.  Cunningham,  Hugh  Torrence,  oldest  son  of  James; 
Alex.  Johnston,  Cunningham  Torrence,  Nathaniel  Hurst,  John 
Stouffer,  Joseph  Gault,  who  served  the  church  fortj'-four  years; 
Barnett  Cunningham,  a  grandson  of  the  original  Barnett,  who 
served  the  church  thirty-four  years;  Wm.  V.  Hurst,  Henry  C. 
Boyd,  Wm.  F.  Gault,  Jonathan  Merritt,  T.  R.  De  Yarman  and 
Wm.  Lint.     Tyrone  has  had  on  an  average  not   more  than  one- 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  55 

third  of  a  pastor's  time  during  her  existence,  yet  how  blessed  the 
results.  This  was  one  of  the  first  churches  in  all  this  region  of 
country.  In  earK'  days  many  came  to  the  Sabbath  services  from 
Indian  Creek,  fifteen  miles  distant,  and  some  came  from  beyond 
Jacob's  Creek.  Tyrone  is  the  mother  of  the  churches  of  Con- 
nellsville,  Dunbar,  Scottdale.  Dawson,  Indian  Creek  and  Har- 
mony; the  la.st  two  dissolved.  It  is  impossible  to  sum  up  all  the 
results  of  the  preaching  of  the  Gospel  here.  The  average  salarj^ 
paid  by  Tyrone  to  her  pastors  for  the  service  rendered  has  been 
about  $200  per  year.  Had  a  more  liberal  policy  been  pursued 
and  the  church  better  supplied  with  preaching,  possibly  Tyrone 
to-day  would  be  self-supporting. 


ROUND  HILL. 


BY    REV.    B.    T.    DEWITT. 

The  early  history  of  Round  Hill  is  derived  entirely  from 
tradition.  The  Rev.  James  Finley  visited  this  region  and  preach- 
ed to  the  scattered  white  inhabitants  about  1772.  From  this 
time  till  1783,  he  occasionally  returned  to  nurture  and  confirm 
what  he  had  begun.  During  one  of  these  visits  he  organized  the 
churches  of  Rehoboth  and  Round  Hill  on  the  same  day.  This 
was  probably  in  1778.  During  this  period  the  inhabitants  were 
in  great  fear  on  account  of  hostile  Indians.  The.se  churches  be- 
gan their  existence  in  a  time  of  great  peril  and  distress.  The 
alarms  of  war  between  the  United  States  and  the  Indians  re- 
sounded throughout  this  entire  region.  That  must  have  been  a 
period  of  distress  when  flour  sold  for  sixteen  dollars  a  barrel  and 
bacon  for  one  dollar  a  pound. 


56  PRESBYTERY  OF  REDSTONE. 

In  1784,  Round  Hill  and  Rehoboth  regularly  settled  as  pas- 
tor, Rev.  Jas.  Finley,  his  services  being  equally  divided  between 
them.  Round  Hill  included  at  this  time  an  extensive  territory, 
embracing  the  present  parishes  of  Mt.  Vernon  and  West  Eliza- 
beth and  a  part  of  McKeesport,  Lebanon  and  Monongahela  City, 
and  on  Sabbath  days  a  very  large  congregation  gathered  here 
from  all  this  region.  By  the  death  of  Rev.  James  Finley,  Janu- 
ar}'  6th,  1795,  these  churches  became  vacant  and  continued  so  for 
two  )/ears  or  more,  when  the  Rev.  David  Smith  was  installed 
over  them.  He  continued  their  pastor  till  his  death,  August 
24th,  1803.  During  the  last  year  of  his  ministry  these  churches 
were  visited  with  a  gracious  revival  of  religion,  accompanied 
with  remarkable  manifestations  called  at  that  time  "the  falling 
down  work." 

Mr.  Smith  was  succeeded  in  this  pastorate  by  Rev.  Wm. 
Wylie,  D.  D.,  in  1805.  There  were  then  about  130  communi- 
cants in  the  two  churches  together.  Mr.  Wylie  continued  pas- 
tor until  the  spring  of  1817,  when  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own 
request. 

In  the  following  June,  the  Rev.  Robt.  Johnston  became  their 
pastor.  This  relation  was  dissolved  as  respects  Round  Hill  in 
October,  1831. 

In  July,  1833,  Rev.  N.  H.  Gillett  became  the  Stated  Supply 
of  these  two  churches  until  December,  1834,  when  he  was  in- 
stalled pastor.  In  1841  he  was  dismissed  from  Round  Hill  at 
his  own  request,  Rehoboth  having  given  him  a  call  for  the  whole 
of  his  services.  Thus  ended  the  union  of  Rehoboth  and  Round 
Hill  in  one  pastorate.     Round  Hill  then  had  108   communicants. 

Round  Hill  called  and  settled  as  pastor.  Rev.  Wm.  Eaton, 
in  1 841.  He  remained  their  pastor  until  April,  1844,  when  at 
his  own  request  he  was  dismissed.  During  his  pastorate  twenty- 
six  were  received  to  membership  on  examination  and  three  by 
certificate. 

In  1845  Rev.  Adley  Calhoun  was  ordained  and  installed 
pastor  of  Round  Hill.  He  was  removed  by  death  i;i  the  spring 
of  1848.  During  his  brief  ministr}'  there  were  added  to  the 
church   fort}'-five    on    examination    and   thirteen    by   certificate. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  5/ 

The  church  was  very  prosperous  at  this  time  both  temporally 
and  spiritually. 

The  congregation  of  Round  Hill  was  supplied  by  licentiates 
until  the  spring  of  1851,  when  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  D.  D.,  was 
called  to  be  their  pastor.  He  was  installed,  June  loth,  1851. 
He  resigned  and  was  dismissed  in  1855.  During  his  pastorate 
thirty  were  received  into  church  membership  on  examination  and 
thirty-eight  by  letter.  In  1851  Round  Hill  congregation  built  in 
the  town  of  Elizabeth  a  large  and  commodious  brick  edifice. 
From  that  time  until  the  present  they  have  worshiped  alternately 
in  the  two  edifices.  In  1854  Round  Hill  contained  140  commu- 
nicants. 

Rev.  James  Martin  became  pastor  of  this  church  in  1857. 
His  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved  in  June,  1863.  During  his 
pastorate  fifty-three  were  received  to  church  membership  on  ex- 
amination and  eighteen  by  certificate. 

Rev.  J.  Logan  Sample  was  called  in  September,  1863.  He 
was  ordained  and  installed,  June  14th,  1864.  The  pastoral  re- 
lation was  dissolved  in  1866.  During  his  pastorate  105  were  re- 
ceived to  membership  on  examination  and  ele\'en  by  certificate. 
While  he  was  pastor  a  great  revival  occurred. 

In  May,  1867,  Rev.  W.  L.  Boyd  was  installed  pastor.  He 
was  released  from  this  relation  in  October,  1870.  During  his 
pastorate  nineteen  were  added  on  examination  and  twenty-six  by 
certificate. 

In  June,  1872,  Rev.  J.  B.  Dickey,  was  installed  pastor.  He 
was  released  from  this  relation  in  June,  1877.  During  the  first 
year  of  his  ministry  the  congregation  built  in  Elizabeth  a  large 
and  beautiful  brick  parsonage.  During  his  pastorate  eighty-four 
were  received  to  membership  on  examination  and  forty  six  b\- 
certificate. 

After  Mr.  Dickey's  dismissal  the  church  was  supplied  for 
about  a  year  b)^  a  licentiate. 

On  January  20th,  1880,  Rev.  J.  D.  Shanks  was  installed  pas- 
tor.    In  December,  1883,  he  was  dismissed   at   his  own  request. 

In  June,  1885,  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  B.  T.  DeWitt,  was 
installed.  Additions  since,  twent)';  whole  number  of  communi- 
cants, 174. 


58  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE, 


REHOBOTH. 


BY    REV.    S.    F.    FARMER,    D.    D. 

The  Presbyterian  church  of  Rehoboth  was  organized  about 
the  year  1778,  by  Rev.  James  Finley,  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  New  Castle,  who  had  been  doing  occasional  missionary 
work  in  the  neighborhood  for  some  two  years. 

In  the  year  1784,  Mr.  Finley  became  pastor  of  this  church, 
in  connection  with  Round  Hill,  in  the  then  lately  organized  Pres- 
bytery of  Redstone.  Mr.  Finley  continued  pastor  of  the.se 
churches  till  the  time  of  his  death,  January  6th,  1795.  His  abil- 
ity and  faithfulness  as  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  greatly  endeared 
him  to  the  people  of  his  charge.  His  work  was  evidently  of  the 
kind  that  abides.  He  was  the  father  of  a  church  whose  good  in- 
fluence has  lived  and  grown  for  a  century.  His  memory  is  held 
in  reverence,  not  only  by  the  church,  but  the  neighborhood. 
"He  rests  from  his  labors  and  his  works  do  follow  him." 

After  the  death  of  Mr.  Finley  the  church  remained  vacant 
about  two  years,  when  Rev.  David  Smith  became  its  pastor. 
The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Smith  continued  about  six  years.  The  last 
of  these  years  was  made  memorable  by  a  very  remarkable  out- 
pouring of  the  Spirit  of  God  upon  the  church  of  Rehoboth,  as 
also  upon  most  of  the  neighboring  churches.  The  preaching  of 
the  word  was  accompanied  by  a  power,  under  which  many  per- 
sons fell  prostrate  and  others  cried  aloud  under  a  sense  of  guilt. 
At  that  memorable  period,  while  in  the  vigor  of  his  manhood 
and  in  the  midst  of  his  usefulness,  the  minister  was  called  from 
his  earthly  labors  to  that  "rest  which  remaineth  for  the  people  of 
God."     He  died,  August  24th,  1803. 

Mr.  Smith  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  William  Wylie,  who  was 
installed  in  1805  ^^'^<^  continued  pastor  of  the  church  about 
twelve  years.  At  that  time  the  two  churches,  Rehoboth  and 
Round  Hill,  numbered  about  130  members.  During  the  pastor- 
ate of  Mr.  W\'lie  the  church  did  not  increase,  but  rather  dimin- 
ished in  numbers,  although  Mr.  Wylie  was  a  man  of  more  than 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  59 

ordinary  ability;  brilliant  as  an  orator  and  diligent  as  a  pastor. 
The  reason  of  the  lack  of  increase  no  doubt  was,  that  durin<;- 
those  years  many  of  the  people  moved  west.  Mr.  W'ylie  was,  at 
his  own  request,  released  in  the  spring  of  181 7. 

In  June,  of  the  same  year,  Rev.  Robert  Johnston  became 
pastor  of  the  churches  of  Rehoboth  and  Round  Hill.  The 
records  of  session  show  that  the  church  of  Rehoboth  had  at 
that  time  sixty-six  members  and  Round  Hill  fift\-three.  During" 
the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Johnston,  a  period  of  fifteen  years,  several 
revivals  occurred  and  the  membership  of  these  churches  was 
nearly  doubled.  Mr.  Johnston  was  released  from  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  church  of  Round  Hill  in  October,  1831,  and  of 
Rehoboth  in  December,  1832. 

Rev.  N.  H.  Gillet  began  to  preach  as  supply  in  July,  1833. 
and  was  installed  as  pastor  in  December,  1834.  Several  seasons 
of  revival  were  enjoyed  during  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Gillett.  At 
one  communion  thirty  persons  were  added  to  the  church  by  ex- 
amination. In  1 841  Mr.  Gillett  was  released  from  the  pastoral 
charge  of  the  Round  Hill  Church  and  accepted  a  call  from  Re- 
hoboth for  the  whole  of  his  time  and  in  1848  he  was,  at  his  own 
request,  released  from  the  pastoral  charge  of  the  church  of  Re- 
hoboth. In  1849  Rev.  James  R.  Hughes  was  installed  pastor  of 
the  church  of  Rehoboth.  During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Hughes 
157  persons  were  added  to  the  membership  of  the  church.  He 
was  dismissed  at  his  own  request  and  removed  from  Rehoboth 
in  1865,  to  take  charge  of  a  female  seminary  at  Blairsville,  Pa. 

Mr.  Hughes  was  succeeded  b)-  Rev.  Loyal  Young  Graham, 
who  was  installed  as  pastor  of  Rehoboth  Church,  October  nth. 
1865.  After  a  pastorate  of  six  years.  Mr.  Graham  was  dismissed 
at  his  own  request,  to  accept  a  call  to  the  01i\et  Presbyterian 
Church,  Philadelphia. 

Mr.  Graham  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  G.  M.  Hair,  whose  in- 
stallation took  place,  December  20th.  1872.  During  the  minis- 
try of  Mr.  Hair,  which  continued  one  year  and  five  months,  for- 
ty-eight persons  were  added  to  the  church. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  Marcus  Wishart,  who  was  in- 
.stalled,  October  28th,  1874,  and  continued  pastor  of  the  church 


6o  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

until  April  24th,  1877,  when  he  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request. 

The  church  remained  vacant  only  till  August  30th,  of  the 
same  j^ear,  when  Rev.  A.  F.  Boyd,  having  received  and  accepted 
a  call,  was  installed  as  its  pastor.  At  a  called  meeting  of  the 
Presbytery,  held  at  West  Newton,  December  nth,  1883,  at  the 
request  of  Mr.  Boyd,  the  pastoral  relation  between  him  and  the 
church  was  dissolved,  his  pastorate  having  continued  six  years 
and  five  months. 

After  remaining  vacant  some  nine  months,  the  church  ex- 
tended a  call  to  Rev.  W.  G.  Nevin.  Mr.  Nevin  accepted  the  call 
and  was  installed,  October  28th,  1884.  Mr.  Nevin's  pastorate 
continued  two  years  and  three  months,  at  the  expiration  of  which 
time,  February  ist,  1887,  he  was,  at  his  own  request,  dismissed  to 
accept  a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Sharon,  Pa.,  where 
he  is  now  laboring. 

The  present  pastor.  Rev.  S.  F.  Farnier,  D.  D.,  was  called 
unanimously  by  the  church  of  Rehoboth,  April  30th,  1887,  and 
his  installation  took  place,  June  30th.  of  the  same  year. 


LONG  RUN. 


BY    REV.    C.    P.    CHEESEMAN. 

History,  the  accurate  record  of  the  past,  is  an  interesting 
study,  whether  it  relates  to  church  or  state.  From  small  begin- 
nings, our  nation  has  grown  to  vast  proportions.  And  the  same 
is  true  of  the  Presbyterian  church  in  America,  and  yet  it  is  a  fact, 
in  some  respects  sad,  that  many  of  the  churches  numerically 
strong  in  the  early  days,  have  weakened,  with  advancing  years, 
until  to-day  they  are  scarcely  self-supporting.  But  when  we  re- 
member the  good  done,  the  swarms  that  have  gone  out  from  the 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  6 1 

old  hives,  we  are  encouraged  to  believe  these  very  churches  are 
deserving  our  most  tender  care. 

The  church  of  Long  Run  is  said  to  date  as  early  as  Red- 
stone Presbytery,  1781.  Very  soon  after  the  organization  of 
the  Presbytery,  Long  Run  appeared  and  asked  for  supplies,  and 
thereafter  for  eleven  or  twelve  years  this  church  was  supplied 
with  the  Gospel  without  having  a  pastor.  It  is  not  strange  they 
were  so  long  vacant,  in  view  of  the  great  scarcity  of  ministers  in 
those  days. 

The  Rev.  Jas.  Finley  was,  probably,  the  first  supply.  Men- 
tion is  made  of  Revs.  Jno.  Clark,  Jno.  Brice,  Jno.  McFerrin  and 
John  McMillan,  as  supplies. 

On  Thursday,  April  21st,  1790,  there  appeared  a  young  man 
before  Presb3'tery  by  the  name  of  Wm.  Swan,  who  asked  to  be 
put  upon  trial  with  a  view  to  be  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel. 
He  was  examined  on  Experimental  Religion  and  Theology  and 
the  Presbytery  being  satisfied,  assigned  him  subjects  on  which  to 
prepare.  He  passed  the  various  parts  of  trial  assigned  him  to 
the  satisfaction  of  Presbytery,  and  on  the  22d  day  of  December, 
1791,  Mr.  Swan  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel,  He  was  then 
appointed  to  supply  at  Long  Run  on  the  fourth  Sabbath  of 
March,  the  first  Sabbath  of  June  and  the  second  Sabbath  of  Au- 
gust, 1792.  The  services  of  Mr.  Swan  seem  to  have  been 
much  demanded,  for  at  the  meeting  of  Presbytery,  held  at  Pigeon 
Creek,  on  the  i6th  of  October,  1792,  he  had  four  calls  put  into 
his  hands,  viz.:  P'rom  the  united  congregations  of  Bethel  and 
PLbenezer,  Mingo  and  Horseshoe  Bottom,  Long  Run  and  Se- 
wickley,  Mill  Creek  and  King's  Creek. 

At  the  meeting  of  Presbytery  held  April  17th,  1793,  Mr. 
Swan  accepted  the  calls  from  Long  Run  and  Sewickley.  Pres- 
bytery assigned  Mr.  Swan  Rom.  3:31  as  a  subject  for  ordination 
sermon,  and  at  a  meeting  of  Presbytery  held  at  Long  Run,  Oc- 
tober 15th,  1793,  he  was  ordained  to  the  full  work  of  the  Gospel 
Ministry  and  installed  pastor  of  Long  Run  and  Sewickley.  Dr. 
McMillan  preached  the  sermon  from  the  text.  Is.  62:6:  "I  have 
set  watchmen  upon  thy  walls,  O  Jerusalem,  which  shall  never 
hold  their  peace   day  nor   night,   ye   that  make   mention    of  the 


62  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

Lord,  keep  not  silence.  And  give  him  no  rest,  till  he  establish 
and  till  he  make  Jerusalem  a  praise  in  the  earth;"  truly,  a  happy 
theme  for  such  an  occasion.  Of  these  united  congregations,  Mr. 
Swan  remained  pastor  for  a  period  of  twenty-five  years. 

At  a  meeting  of  Presbytery,  held  at  Polk  Run,  June  30th, 
1 8 18,  the  sacred  ties  that  held  pastor  and  people  in  intimate 
union  for  a  quarter  of  a  century  were  severed,  but  it  is  recorded 
that  at  the  spring  meeting  of  Presbytery  the  following  year, 
April  20th,  1 8 19,  Mr.  Swan  was  recalled  to  the  pastorate  of  Long 
Run  alone.  Being  in  poor  health  he  was  not  able  to  do  full 
work  and  was  aided  somewhat  by  supplies  sent  by  Presbytery. 
Declining  health  compelled  him  to  resign,  April  i6th,  1822. 
The  first  pastor  of  Long  Run,  therefore,  served  them  during  a 
period  of  twenty-eight  years.  Mr.  Swan  was  a  native  of  Cum- 
berland, now  Franklin  county.  Pa.  He  received  his  education  at 
Canonsburg.  What  the  growth  of  the  church  was  under  his 
ministry  we  can  not  ascertain.  But  no  doubt  his  work  was  a 
good  one  and  his  labors  acceptable.  Dr.  Smith,  in  "Old  Red- 
stone," says:  "In  the  year  1804,  and  for  some  time  afterward, 
Mr.  Swan's  congregations  were  visited  with  special  outpourings 
of  God's  Spirit,  and  considerable  numbers  were  added  to  the 
church.  Mr.  Swan's  health  continued  to  decline  and  on  the  7th 
of  November,  1827,  he  fell  asleep  in  Jesus  in  the  sixty-fourth 
year  of  his  age.  He  was  buried  in  the  Long  Run  graveyard  and 
'his  sepulchre  is  with  us  to  this  day.'  " 

The  church  now  remained  vacant  for  a  period  of  three  years, 
during  which  time  it  was  supplied,  in  part,  by  the  Presbytery  and 
in  part  b)'  ministers  from  other  Presbyteries. 

At  a  meeting  of  Presbytery,  held  at  Beulah,  October  19th, 
1824,  the  congregation  presented  a  call  for  the  ministerial  ser- 
vices of  Mr.  Alexander  McCandlass  for  two-thirds  of  his  time, 
at  a  salary  of  ^300.  At  the  same  meeting  the  congregation  of 
McKeesport  presented  a  call  for  one-third  of  Mr.  McCandlass' 
time,  offering  him  a  salary  of  $1$^-  These  calls  were  accepted 
and  at  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery,  April  19th,  1825,  held  at 
Long  Run,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  over  these  congrega- 
tions.    Mr.  McCandlass  served  these   people    for    twelve    years. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE,  63 

In  October,  1837,  he  resigned  the  charge  of  McKeesport  and 
leave  was  granted  the  congregation  of  Long  Run  to  employ  him 
the  whole  of  his  time.  But  the  following  year,  owing  to  the  state 
of  his  health,  Mr.  McCandlass  asked  to  be  released  from  Long 
Run.  His  request  was  granted,  but  at  the  meeting  of  Presby- 
tery held,  October  2d,  1838,  the  congregation  asked  and  obtained 
leave  to  employ  Mr.  McCandlass  as  Stated  Supply  for  six- 
months.  And  after  an  experience  of  twelve  years  as  pastor  and 
six  months  as  supply,  the  congregation  concluded  to  recall  Mr. 
McCandlass.  He  accepted  the  call  and  Rev.  Messrs.  Johnson 
and  Montgomery  were  appointed  a  committee  to  install  him. 
This  relation  continued  till  April  8th,   1845. 

Mr.  McCandlass'  pastorate  extended  over  a  period  of  twenty 
years.  It  is  impossible  to  ascertain  what  was  the  condition  and 
growth  of  the  church  during  the  time  it  was  united  with  Mc- 
Keesport. The  statistical  tables  for  that  period,  included  both 
congregations,  just  as  if  they  had  been  one.  But  during  the  time 
Mr.  McCandlass  was  pastor  of  Long  Run  alone,  the  church 
seems  to  have  been  in  its  most  prosperous  condition.  This  is 
the  period  when  the  membership  reached  the  highest  number 
and  when  the  contributions  of  the  church  were  the  largest.  In 
1839  the  membership  was  228.  From  that  to  1844,  there  was  a 
.steady  growth,  when  the  number  reached  272.  Upon  one  or 
two  occasions  during  this  period,  there  were  added  as  many  as 
twenty  on  examination.  Long  Run  was  Mr.  McCandlass'  first 
and  onl}'  charge.  After  his  release  from  his  pastoral  work  he 
spent  some  time  in  New  Jersey,  after  which  he  went  to  Monroe 
county,  Ohio,  where  he  died  on  the  loth  of  April,  1848. 

Mr.  McCandlass  was  succeeded  as  pastor  of  this  church  by 
Rev.  W.  D.  Moore.  Indeed,  the  congregation  could  hardly  be 
said  to  be  vacant  at  all;  for  at  the  same  meeting  at  which  the 
pastoral  relation  between  Mr.  McCandlass  and  this  church  was 
dissolved,  a  call  was  presented  for  the  services  of  Mr.  W.  D. 
Moore,  then  a  licentiate,  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Ohio. 

This  call  was  accepted  and  Presbytery  met  at  Long  Run, 
June  nth,  1845,  to  ordain  and  install  the  pastor  elect.     In   this 


64  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

service  Rev.  Jos.  B.  McKee  preached  the  sermon,  Rev.  Saml. 
Wilson  presided  and  deHvered  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Rev. 
Jas.  I.  Brownson  gave  the  charge  to  the  people.  The  pastorate 
of  Mr.  Moore  continued  a  httle  over  four  years  and  then  termi- 
nated, neither  at  his  own  request  nor  that  of  the  congregation. 
This  unusual  transaction  is  explained  in  the  following  manner  : 
Mr.  Moore  received,  in  the  year  1849,  calls  from  the  united 
churches  of  Greensburg  and  Mt.  Pleasant,  and  not  being  able  to 
decide  what  his  duty  was  in  the  matter,  left  the  question  in  the 
hands  of  Presbytery  to  answer;  they  assumed  this  responsible 
duty  and  advised  Mr.  Moore  to  accept  the  calls,  and  at  once  dis- 
solved the  relation  existing  between  the  Long  Run  congregation 
and  Mr.  Moore.  Against  this  action  of  Presbytery,  Long  Run 
remonstrated.  Mr.  Moore  had  a  hold  on  the  hearts  of  the  peo- 
ple, which  but  few  pastors  are  able  to  gain.  He  was  a  man  of 
scholarly  attainments,  an  earnest  and  eloquent  preacher. 

The  congregation  now  remained  vacant  about  one  year  and 
a  half,  when  they  gave  a  call  to  Rev.  F.  A.  Shearer.  Mr.  Shear- 
er remained  with  this  people  less  than  one  year.  He  was  in- 
stalled, June  19th,  185 1.  Rev.  Jas.  R.  Hughes  preached  the 
sermon.  Dr.  Jos.  Smith  presided  and  charged  the  pastor  and 
Rev.  W.  D.  Moore  charged  the  people.  The  following  Septem- 
ber, 1 85 1,  Mr.  Shearer  was  released  from  this  charge.  It  seems 
this  pastorate  was  entered  upon  with  a  good  deal  of  opposition 
and  for  this  reason  so  soon  terminated.  The  difficulties  in  this 
church  had  assumed  such  proportions  it  became  necessary,  in 
the  judgment  of  Presbytery,  to  take  some  action  ;  and  this  the 
Presbytery  did  in  writing  a  letter  to  the  church  and  also  holding 
a  meeting  of  Presbytery  in  the  church.  Their  efforts  seem  to 
have  been  blessed. 

On  the  22d  of  September,  1852,  the  congregation  called  to 
be  their  pastor,  Mr.  J.  A.  Means,  and  on  October  19th,  of  the 
same  year,  Mr.  Means  was  ordained  and  installed  over  Long 
Run  Church.  The  ministry  of  this  brother  was  brief  His 
work  for  the  Master  was,  however,  done,  and  he  said  :  "It  is 
enough."  Mr.  Means  died,  June  3d,  1854,  not  quite  twenty-six 
years  old,  having  been  ordained  to  the  full  work   of  the  ministry 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  65 

and  having"  served  this  church  as  its  pastor  not  quite  two    years. 
The  November  following  the  death  of  Mr.  Means,  the  con- 
gregation extended  to  Rev.  S.  M.  C.  Anderson,  a  call,  which  Mr. 
Anderson  declined  to  accept. 

The  congregation  remained  vacant  till  March  19th,  1855, 
when  they  called  Mr.  Alex.  McGaughey,  who  accepted  the  call, 
and  at  a  meeting  of  Presbytery,  held  at  Long  Run,  May  i6th. 
1855,  Mr.  McGaughey  was  ordained  and  installed.  He  opened 
Presbytery  with  a  sermon  on  the  subject  assigned  him,  Eph.  3:8. 
Rev.  Jas.  R.  Hughes  preached,  Rev.  Dr.  West  presided  and 
charged  the  pastor  and  Rev.  C.  C.  Riggs  gave  the  charge  to  the 
people.  This  pastorate  continued  about  eight  years.  Mr.  Mc- 
Gaughey offered  his  resignation  in  April,  1862,  but  the  congrega- 
tion refused  to  accept  it  and  he  remained  pastor  till  near  the  close 
of  the  following  year,  when  he  felt  it  to  be  his  duty  to  resign, 
which  he  did  and  was  released  from  the  pastoral  labors  of  this 
church. 

Mr.  McGaughey  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  D.  Moore,  who 
had  served  this  congregation  as  its  third  pastor.  Mr.  Moore  was 
elected  February  1st,  1 864,  but  was  not  installed  and  served  the 
church  as  Stated  Supply.  This  was  owing  to  the  disturbed  con- 
dition of  the  country.  Mr.  Moore  could  not  get  his  letter  from 
the  Southern  Presbytery,  where  he  had  been  preaching,  and  in 
addition  to  this  Long  Run  had  granted  him  leave  of  absence  for 
one  year  to  serve  as  chaplain  in  the  army.  Mr.  Moore  preached 
for  some  time  after  his  return  from  the  army,  but  soon  drifted 
into  politics  and  being  defeated  in  his  early  aspirations  he  entered 
the  practice  of  law,  and  to  this  day  practices  his  profession  in 
the  city  of  Pittsburgh. 

The  next  pastor  of  this  church  was  Rev.  N.  H.  G.  Fife,  who 
was  installed,  June  23d,  1868.  At  this  service  Rev.  Watson 
Hughes,  presided;  Rev.  O.  H.  Miller,  preached;  Rev.  J.  M.  Bar- 
nett,  charged  the  pastor,  and  Rev.  W.  W.  Ralston,  the  people. 
Rev.  Mr.  Fife  was  pastor  of  this  church  a  little  over  five  years. 
He  offered  his  resignation,  September  25th,  1873,  which  was  at 
first  declined  by  the  congregation,  but  upon   the   urgent   request 


66  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

of  Mr.  Fife,  the  congregation  reconsidered  their  action  and  grant- 
ed his  request.  The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Fife  is  said  to  have  been 
very  harmonious. 

Rev.  John  W.  Little  became  the  next  pastor.  He  was  in- 
stalled, May,  1874.  Rev.  J.  W.  Wightman  preached  the  ser- 
mon, Rev.  J.  B.  Dicky  charged  the  pastor  and  Rev.  Henry  Ful- 
ton the  people. 

March  21st,  1875,  Mr.  Little  offered  his  resignation.  With  his 
request  the  congregation  complied  and  the  church  was  once  more 
vacant  and  remained  so  till  November  25th,  1875,  when  the  con- 
gregation extended  to  Rev.  W.  P.  Moore,  a  call,  which  he  ac- 
cepted and  was  installed,  June  13th,  1876.  Rev.  W.  F.  Ewing 
preached,  Rev.  J.  W.  Wightman  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pas- 
tor and  the  Rev.  R.  T.  Price  the  charge  to  the  people;  Rev.  W. 
P.  Moore  was  pastor  of  this  church  seven  years. 

April  20th,  1883,  the  congregation  made  out  a  call  for  the 
services  of  the  present  pastor,  C.  P.  Cheeseman,  who  was  ordain- 
ed and  installed,  June,  1883.  Rev.  J.  D.  Shanks  presided;  Rev. 
J.  C.  Meloy  preached  the  sermon;  Rev.  A.  Z.  McGogney 
charged  the  pastor  and  Rev.  Geo.  H.  Johnson,  the  people.  This 
congregation  has  had  ten  pastors,  which  is  truly  a  good  record, 
when  we  remember  the  circumstances.  One  fact  is  worthy  of  re- 
mark; they  recalled  the  first  three — Swan,  McCandlass  and  W. 
D.  Moore.  Six  of  these  ten,  namely  :  Swan,  McCandlass,  W. 
D.  Moore,  Means,  McGaughey  and  Cheeseman,  came  to  this 
field  as  their  first  charge  and  were  here  ordained  to  the  work  of 
the  Gospel  Ministry.  Four  of  these  have  been  called  from  earth, 
namely — Swan,  McCandlass,  Means  and  McGaughey. 

We  have  heard  it  remarked,  and  for  some  time  thought  it 
true,  that  Long  Run  changes  pastors  very  frequently.  Let  us 
see — three  of  the  ten  remained  as  long  as  health  would  permit — 
almost  to  the  end  of  their  lives;  two  more  could  have  remained 
as  long  as  they  wished,  it  would  seem.  Indeed,  the  people  of 
this  congregation  are  slow  to  part  with  the  pastors  whom  they 
have  chosen. 

The  following  is  as  correct  a  list  as  could  be  .secured  of  those 
who  have  served  as  ruling  elders   in  this   church:     Jos.  Collins, 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  67 

John  Barns,  Adam  Kuhn,  Jas.  Cowan.  Robt.  Fulton.  David 
Fleming,  Jas.  Caldwell.  John  Gray,  Jas.  Gray,  Boyd  Ward,  Saml. 
Fleming,  Andrew  Christy,  Saml.  Black,  R.  M.  Cavett,  J.  J.  Cow- 
an, Wm.  Weston,  Mathew  Hawkins,  John  Lynch,  Jas.  Simpson, 
David  Kuhn,  Jos.  Perkins,  Jas.  Black,  Finley  Byerley,  Wm.  Ford, 
J.  M.  Brown,  J.  M.  Shaner. 

The  records  bear  witne.ss  to  the  faithfulness  of  the  eldership. 
They  have  been  men  of  real  worth,  who  dared  to  do  right. 
True,  they  were  not  always  right,  but  their  aim  was  to  keep  pure 
the  church  and  advance  the  cause  of  Christ.  Their  names  will 
go  down  to  their  children's  children  in  honorable  mention. 

The  Sabbath  School  was  organized  about  1823.  by  Mr.  Jas. 
Cowan,  and  has  been  kept  up,  in  the  summer  season  ever  since. 
Mr.  Swan  organized  in  his  day  a  week-day  Bible  Class,  which  he 
taught  as  long  as  health  permitted. 

Our  duty  would  not  be  done  in  this  brief  work,  should  we 
fail  to  mention  the  organization  and  maintenance  of  the  Ladies'  For- 
eign and  Home  Mi.ssionary  Societies.  In  the  work  of  the  Lord 
they  have  taken  a  lively  interest  and  are  adding  year  by  year  to 
the  motive  power  of  the  church.  Their  work  is  the  quiet  kind 
that  tells  for  good. 

The  church  of  Long  Run  has  passed  through  about  one 
hundred  and  seven  years  of  recorded  time.  How  great  the 
changes  and  how  many,  in  both  church  and  state  !  The  first 
preaching  was  out  of  doors,  under  the  shadow  of  the  great  oaks. 
There  Finley  and  Clark  and  McMillan  preached  Christ  to  anxious 
souls,  burdened  with  the  same  infirmities  that  hinder  our  pro- 
gress in  our  journey  to  the  promised  Canaan. 

The  first  meeting  house  was  a  log  building,  the  second  was 
of  brick,  near  the  site  of  the  present  house  of  worship.  The 
present  church  building  was  erected  during  W.  D.  Moore's 
second  ministry  among  the  people. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  history  the  writer  is  greatly  in- 
debted to  the  Rev.  W.  P.  Moore,  now  of  Fredricksburgh,  Ohio. 


68  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 


JEFFERSON. 


BY    REV.    JOHN    m'CLINTOCK. 

Of  the  early  history  of  this  church  there  are  no  available  ma- 
terials extant.  It  is  supposed  to  have  existed  at  the  time  or  soon 
after  the  organization  of  Redstone  Presbytery. 

As  early  as  October,  1783,  the  South  Fork  of  Tenmile  is 
mentioned  in  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery,  at  which  time  Rev. 
Thaddeus  Dodd  and  afterward  other  ministers  were  appointed 
supplies.  As  Jefferson  is  located  on  the  South  Fork  of  Tenmile 
and  no  other  church  in  the  Presbytery  is  mentioned  by  that 
name,  the  inference  is  that  was  then  the  name  of  the  church. 
This  seems  the  more  probable  from  the  fact  of  the  contiguity  of 
Jefferson  to  Muddy  Creek  or  New  Providence  Church,  the  two 
being  often  spoken  of  in  conjunction  when  supplies  were  appoint- 
ed. In  a  statistical  report  made  to  Presbytery  in  April,  1824, 
the  total  membership  of  the  church,  as  stated,  was  thirty.  At  the 
beginning  of  Mr.  McClintock's  pastorate,  in  1839,  there  were 
some  twenty-five  members :  ten  males  and  fifteen  females.  The 
ruling  elders  were  Abijah  McClain,  John  Gilland  and  Henry 
Black.  It  was  not  till  April,  1 841,  a  call  for  the  one-third  time 
of  Mr.  McClintock's  time  on  a  salary  of  ;^ioo  was  made  out, 
which  being  accepted.  Rev.  William  Johnson  and  Rev.  Samuel 
Wilson  were  appointed  to  officiate  at  the  installation,  which  oc- 
curred on  the  29th  of  June,  1841.  This  relation  continued  up 
to  April  nth,  1849,  when,  at  the  request  of  the  pastor,  it  was 
dissolved,  that  he  might  give  his  whole  time  to  New  Provi- 
dence Church.  Being  thus  left  vacant,  the  church  of  Jefferson 
united  with  Waynesburg  Church  and  was  statedly  supplied  for 
some  time  by  Rev.  J.  Y.  Calhoun,  but  again  became  vacant  and 
had  only  occasional  supplies. 

In  1854  application  was  again  made  for  part  of  the  time  of 
the  pastor  of  New  Providence  Church,  who  consented  to  become 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  69 

Stated  Supply  and  continued  to  serve  in  this  relation  till  May, 
1866.  The  whole  period  of  service  there,  including  his  pastorate 
and  term  of  supply,  was  about  twenty  years. 

In  1870,  Rev.  Asahel  Bronson,  D.  D.,  then  serving  the 
church  of  Waynesburg,  became  Stated  Supply  part  of  his  time. 
Dr.  Bronson  continued  to  supply  that  church  for  some  three 
years.  He  was  succeeded  as  Stated  Supply  by  Rev.  John  W. 
Scott,  D.  D.,  in  1874.  His  term  of  service  was  about  seven 
years.  Being  one  of  the  Professors  of  the  College  at  Jefferson, 
the  Dr.  was  accustomed  to  preach  only  on  alternate  Sabbaths, 
which,  at  his  advanced  age,  he  found  to  be  as  much  as  he  could 
well  do. 

The  cemetery  ground  and  the  lot  on  which  the  church  in 
Jefferson  stands,  were  conveyed  by  deed  of  Mr.  Thomas  Hughes, 
an  old  residenter  of  that  place,  to  trustees,  for  the  use  and  bene- 
fit of  the  Presbyterian  congregation. 

The  building  occupied  by  worshipers  in  1839  was  a  clumsy, 
antiquated  frame,  with  one  door  in  the  side  and  a  broad  aisle 
leading  to  the  pulpit,  in  front  of  which  there  was  a  stove,  only 
about  four  feet  distant,  the  steam  of  which,  when  heated,  was  lit- 
tle less  than  suffocating  to  the  speaker.  As  nearly  as  I  can  re- 
member, the  dimensions  of  the  house  were  25x30  feet,  with  up- 
right seats,  some  of  which  were  claimed  as  the  property  of  occu- 
pants. In  this  house,  trying  to  the  flesh,  they  continued  to  wor- 
ship for  several  years,  when  at  the  urgent  request  of  the  pastor, 
it  was  torn  down  and  the  present  neat  and  comfortable  brick 
building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about  $1,100.00.  It  is  some 
30x35  feet  and  stands  upon  a  solid  rock.  Not  a  few  of  the  wor- 
•shipers,  we  trust,  who  once  gladly  made  it  the  place  of  their  re- 
sort, have  long  since  been  translated  to  seats  in  the  upper  temple. 

During  Mr.  McClintock's  ministrations  at  Jefferson,  there 
were  sixty  additions,  forty-eight  on  examination  and  twelve  on 
certificate. 

In  Dr.  Bronson's  time  six  were  admitted  on  examination  and 
in  Dr.  Scott's  time  twenty  on  examination   and  eight  on  certifi- 


JO  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

cate,  making  altogether  ninety-four.  Mr.  McClintock's  bap- 
tisms there  were:  infants,  twenty-eight;  adults,  twenty-five;  mak- 
ing fifty-three;  other  baptisms,  fourteen;  total,  sixty-seven. 
The  marriages  solemnized  were  eleven.  Deaths  during  his  time 
and  the  time  of  others,  thirty-eight.  Dismissions,  twenty.  Left 
without  certificate,  ten. 

During  Dr.  Scott's  ministrations,  contributions  for  benevo- 
lent objects,  in  seven  years,  as  reported  on  the  minutes,  were 
$151.00.  What  may  have  been  done  during  the  ministry  of 
others  is  not  reported  in  the  sessional  records  and  cannot  now  be 
stated. 

For  many  years  there  has  been  a  Sabbath  School  in  con- 
nection with  the  church;  also  a  Ladies'  Missionary  Society.  At 
present,  however,  the  latter,  we  think,  has  been  disbanded. 

From  the  foregoing  narrative,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Jeffer- 
son Church  has  at  no  time  been  in  a  flourishing  condition.  To 
this  result,  inconstant  supplies  and  other  causes  have  doubtless 
contributed.  Probably  not  more  than  twenty  members  can  now 
be  counted  as  enrolled.  The  present  elders  comprise  Mr.  James 
Eaton  and  Samuel  Braden. 

One  of  the  former  elders,  Charles  Gilland,  made  a  donation 
to  the  church  for  the  support  of  the  Gospel  of  the  sum  of 
$1,000.00  and  Mary  Gilland,  his  sister,  left  a  legacy  of  $500.00 
for  the  same  purpose,  the  interest  only  to  be  used. 

We  omitted  to  state  in  the  proper  place  that  Rev.  Wm.  Mc- 
Clintock  Eaton,  one  of  the  sons  of  Jefferson  church,  in  the  year 
1 884  served  the  church  as  Stated  Supply  several  months.  In  his 
time,  two  persons  were,  on  examination,  admitted  to  membership. 
At  sundry  times  additions  were  made  to  the  eldership. 

In  1843,  David  Bell  and  Wm.  Cree,  having  been  chosen, 
were,  on  the  second  Sabbath  of  September,  ordained  and  installed. 
November  22,  1858,  Charles  Gilland  and  Thomas  Scott  were  ad- 
ded to  the  number.  Again,  January  28th,  1872,  James  Gil- 
land and  James  Eaton  were  inducted  into  the  ofifice  of  ruling  el- 
der. Afterward  Samuel  Braden  was  elected,  having  previously 
been  ordained  to  the  office. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  7 1 


NEW   PROVIDENCE. 


BY    REV.    JOHN     M  CLINTOCK. 

The  locality  of  this  church  is  said  to  be  the  oldest  settled 
west  of  the  Monongahela  river. 

In  his  secular  history  of  southwestern  Pennsylvania,  the 
Hon.  James  Veech  says:  "Of  its  river  border,  that  formed  by 
the  Monongahela  was  the  soonest  settled;  and  of  this,  that  por- 
tion which  after  1767  was  found  to  be  in  Pennsylvania  was  the 
earliest.  This  was  the  settlement  on  Muddy  Creek,  in  (now) 
Greene  county,  spreading  out  northwards  toward  Tenmile  and 
southwards  towards  Whiteley  Creeks.  Like  the  early  settlers  in 
corresponding  parts  of  Fayette  county,  they  had  come  mostly  from 
the  Potomac  borders  of  Maryland  and  Virginia,  the  Kittatinny 
Valley,  a  few  from  the  Nursery  and  some  from  Ireland.  John 
Armstrong's,  where  Rev.  Dr.  McMillan  preached  his  second  ser- 
mon in  the  West,  was  on  Muddy  Creek,  and  in  that  vicinity  is 
the  oldest  Presbyterian  church  in  Greene  county,  for  a  while  the 
only  one.  Mr.  Armstrong  was,  doubtless,  an  acquaintance  of  Dr. 
McMillan.  Lower  down  the  river  in  choice  locations  and  up  its 
large  affluents,  settlements  were  easily  formed.  Old  Virginia 
had  for  a  long  time  made  a  special  business  of  persecuting  the 
Baptists.  Hence,  they  took  refuge  on  Muddy  Creek,  Whiteley 
and  Tenmile,  lower  down  on  Pikerun  and  Peter's  Creek,  at  an 
early  day,  when  they  were  ministered  to  by  Elders  Corbley  and 
the  Sutton  brothers." 

In  this  beautiful  valley,  washed  by  the  waters  of  the  Monon- 
gahela, our  Presbyterian  forefathers  sought  for  themselves  a 
home  amid  the  wild  woods,  set  up  their  altars,  planted  the  stand- 
ard of  the  cross  and  began  work  for  Christ.  Theirs  was  a  dan- 
gerous, as  well  as  a  difficult  and  laborious  task.  P'or  many  suc- 
cessive years  these  border  settlements  were  subjected  to  trials 
and  hardships,  which  none  but  hardy  pioneers  could  well  sur- 
mount.    Besides  enduring  untold  privations,  they  were  annoyed 


72  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

by  a  constant  feeling  of  insecurity,  arising  from  the  stealthy  and 
frequent  incursions  of  the  much  dreaded  Indian.  On  assembUng 
for  rehgious  services,  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  for  the  men  to 
carry  with  them  their  trusty  rifles,  ready  for  defense.  If  the  cul- 
ture and  polish  of  those  early  times  were  less  conspicuous  and 
graceful  than  the  present,  the  defect  was  more  than  compensated 
by  a  robustness  which  served  largely  to  give  power  of  endurance 
and  stability  of  character,  qualities  indispensable  in  that  formative 
period. 

The  early  settlers  were  thus  better  able  to  breast  the  storm 
and  bear  the  winter's  severity  when  houses  of  worship  were  few 
and  far  between.  In  allusion  to  those  early  times,  Doddridge, 
the  author  of  "Notes  on  the  Life  and  Manners  of  the  Western 
Settlers,"  says:  "It  was  no  disparagement  to  them  that  their 
churches  were  the  shady  groves  and  their  pulpit  a  kind  of  tent 
constructed  of  a  few  rough  slabs  and  covered   with  clapboards." 

Keeping  in  mind  these  things,  we  shall  be  better  able  to 
comprehend  the  situation  and  properly  estimate  the  preliminary 
work  done  by  our  heroic  ancestors  and  feel  more  sensibly  our 
obligations  to  them  for  the  precious  heritage  which,  through  their 
toils  and  prayers,  has  come  down  to  us. 

Prior  to  the  year  1840  there  are  no  available  sessional  re- 
cords of  New  Providence  Church,  from  which  materials  can 
now  be  gathered  for  historical  detail.  Up  to  that  date  the  chief 
sources  of  information  are  fragmentary  items  gleaned  from  the 
records  of  the  Presbyteries  of  Redstone  and  Ohio,  together  with 
oral  statements,  the  most  reliable  that  could  be  obtained  from 
persons  living  and  connected  with  the  church. 

At  the  organization  of  Redstone  Presbytery,  in  September, 
1 78 1,  Muddy  Creek  congregation,  jointly  with  the  South  Fork 
of  Ten  Mile,  made  application  for  supplies.  Being  then  recog- 
nized as  a  church,  its  informal  organization  seems  to  have  been 
.several  years  before  that  date.  On  the  records  of  the  Presby- 
tery, it  is  distinguished  by  the  two  names.  Muddy  Creek  and 
New  Providence.  It  has  also  been  popularly  called  the  Glade's 
Church.  As  appears  from  the  Presbyterial  records  for  several 
successive  years.  Revs.  James  Power,  John  McMillan,  Thaddeus 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  73 

Dodd,  James  Dunlap,  Joseph  Patterson  and  John  Brice,  a  licen- 
tiate, were  appointed  supphes. 

April,  1789,  New  Providence  Church  united  in  a  call  with 
the  South  Fork  of  Tenniile  for  the  ministerial  labors  of  Rev. 
James  Hughes,  which  he  declined  to  accept. 

From  September  of  the  same  year,  till  some  time  in  1790, 
licentiates  John  McPherrin,  John  Brice,  Robert  Marshall  and 
Revs.  James  Dunlap  and  James  Hughes,  officiated  as  supplies. 
They  were  succeeded  by  Rev.  Robert  Finley,  a  minister  from 
North  Carolina. 

In  1 791  Rev.  Jacob  Jennings  became  a  member  of  Red- 
stone Presbytery  and  was  appointed  to  supply  New  Providence 
Church  part  of  his  time.  April  17th,  1792,  this  church  united 
with  Dunlap's  Creek  in  calling  Mr.  Jennings  to  the  pastorate.  In 
this  relation  he  continued  five  and  a  half  years  and  was  then  al- 
lowed to  devote  his  whole  time  to  the  church  of  Dunlap's  Creek. 
Of  the  fruit  of  his  labors  here  no  record  is  extant. 

By  order  of  the  Synod  of  Virginia,  of  which  the  Presbyter}' 
of  Redstone  was  an  integral  part,  the  latter,  in  1793,  was  divided 
and  the  Monongahela  river  was  made  the  boundary  line  between 
it  and  the  new  Presbytery  of  Ohio.  By  this  division  New  Provi- 
dence Church  was  placed  under  the  supervision  of  the  latter 
Presbytery. 

In  October,  1798,  permission  w^as  given  to  New  Providence 
to  join  with  Union  (now  Kent)  Church  and  also  George's  Creek, 
to  put  in  a  call  for  the  labors  of  Mr.  James  Adams.  On  accept- 
ing the  call,  Mr.  Adams  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  in  Oc- 
tober, 1799.  After  serving  in  this  relation  two  and  a  half  years, 
Mr.  Adams  was  released  from  the  charge  of  New  Providence 
Church.     Of  his  ministerial  success  we  are  unable  to  speak. 

October  20th,  1802,  this  church  united  with  that  of  Jeffer- 
son in  asking  for  Mr.  Cephas  Dodd  as  supply  for  one  year,  but 
for  reasons  not  given  in  the  minutes  of  Presbytery,  the  request 
was  not  granted.  About  this  time  this  western  region  was  vis- 
ited with  a  gracious  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Tradition  says 
it  extended  to  this  church,  accompanied  by  the  usual  bodily  af- 
fections.    October  19th,    Mr.   Cephas   Dodd  was  appointed    to 


74  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

supply  for  one  year  the  united  congregations  of  New  Providence. 
Jefferson  and  Ruff's  Creek  the  whole  of  his  time  and  order  was 
taken  for  his  ordination  at  the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery.  Af- 
ter his  induction  into  the  ministry,  Mr.  Dodd  was  married  to  Miss 
Ruth,  daughter  of  James  Flenniken,  one  of  the  ruling  elders  of 
this  church. 

On  closing  his  ministry  here,  he  became  the  honored  suc- 
cessor of  his  father,  Rev.  Thaddeus  Dodd,  in  the  pastoral  charge 
of  the  churches  of  Upper  and  Lower  Tenmile.  At  this  juncture. 
New  Providence  Church  seems  to  have  been  left  vacant  for  sev- 
eral years.  In  the  Presbyterial  records  it  is  stated  that  on  the 
20th  of  October,  1807,  a  call  was  presented  by  the  united  con- 
gregations of  New  Providence  and  Jefferson,  for  the  ministerial 
labors  of  Mr.  Moses  Allen,  of  which  he  declared  his  acceptance, 
and  on  the  24th  of  the  December  following  he  was  ordained  and 
installed,  in  which  services,  Rev.  Boyd  Mercer  preached  the 
sermon  and  Rev.  A.  Gwyn  presided  and  delivered  the  charges. 
Mr.  Allen  was  son-in-law  of  Rev.  John  McMillan  and  is  said  to 
have  been  an  able  preacher.  In  this  field  he  remained  nine  years 
and  was  then  dismissed  to  take  charge  of  the  church  of  Raccoon. 
His  successor  in  this  church  was  Rev.  Boyd  Mercer,  who,  in 
April,  1 81 8,  was  appointed  Stated  Supply  for  one  year.  He 
seems  not  to  have  attained  much  distinction  in  the  ministry. 

After  remaining  vacant  for  some  time,  in  October,  1820,  this 
church,  in  union  with  that  of  Jefferson,  obtained  as  a  supply. 
Rev.  George  Van  Emmon.  On  the  i8th  of  April,  1821,  a  call 
from  said  churches  for  the  whole  of  Mr.  Van  Emmon's  time  was 
given  to  him,  and  being  accepted,  he  was  installed  on  the  Mon- 
day following.  The  Rev.  William  McMillan  preached  the  usual 
.sermon  and  the  Rev.  Matthew  Brown  presided  and  delivered  the 
charges.  By  order  of  the  Synod  of  Pittsburgh,  in  1825,  Mr. 
Van  Emmon  and  his  charges  were  set  over  from  the  Presbytery 
of  Ohio  to  that  of  Redstone.  F"or  the  term  of  fourteen  and  a 
half  years,  Mr.  Van  Emmon  continued  to  sow  in  this  field  the 
precious  seed  of  gospel  truth.  His  social  qualities  and  evangeli- 
cal preaching  commanded  the  esteem  and  approval  of  his  people. 
On    resigning   his    charge  here,   April,  1835,  Rev.  James  Baber, 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  75 

from  Eastern  Virginia,  succeeded  him  in  October,  1835,  minis- 
tering as  Stated  Supply  for  two  years.  This  church  then  be- 
came vacant  and  was  occasionally  supplied  by  Revs.  Guthrie, 
Gillett,  Henry,  Bristol  and  Davis,  and  by  licentiates  Joseph  H. 
Chambers,  John  M.  Smith  and  William  McMichal. 

RULING    ELDERS. 

Of  the  ruling  elders  of  New  Providence  Church  the  first  set 
comprised  James  Flenniken,  John  Armstrong,  John  Crawford 
and  John  Flenniken.  The  first  mentioned  was  esteemed  as  a  pil- 
lar in  the  church  and  ceased  not  to  command  the  respect  and  con- 
fidence of  his  associates  and  neighbors.  In  the  spring  of  1802 
he  was  a  commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly.  He  died,  Au- 
gust 25th,  1823,  aged  seventy-six  years. 

John  Armstrong  was  a  fair  representative  of  the  Scotch-Irish 
type  of  religion.  Tenacious  and  firm  in  his  adherence  of  accept- 
ed principles,  his  predilections  were  strongly  in  favor  of  the  old 
paths  and  his  mind  firmly  set  against  innovation  upon  established 
forms  and  usages.  Having  served  the  church  acceptably  for 
many  years,  he  at  length  laid  aside  the  badge  of  office  for  the 
crown  of  life. 

For  lack  of  information,  we  cannot  speak  of  John  Crawford 
with  certainty,  either  as  to  his  Christian  attainments,  his  term  of 
service  in  the  church,  or  of  his  ascension  to  join  the  sacramental 
host  in  Heaven. 

At  an  early  period  in  the  history  of  this  (Greene)  county, 
Elder  John  Flenniken  came  from  North  Carolina  and  permanent- 
ly settled  in  this  locality.  Prior  to  his  immigration,  he  was  a 
member  of  the  convention,  which  met  at  Charlotte,  in  the  county 
of  Mecklenburg,  on  the  19th  of  May,  1775.  He  was  also  a 
signer  of  the  famous  Mecklenburg  Declaration  of  Independence 
adopted  by  that  convention,  from  which  Thomas  Jefferson  drew 
some  of  his  glowing,  patriotic  sentiments,  embodied  in  the  one 
adopted  in  1776.  From  this  county  Mr.  Flenniken  once  was 
honored  with  a  seat  in  the  Legislature.  For  a  number  of  years 
he  was  also  an  Associate  Judge.  Being  twice  married,  he  was  the 
father  of  a  numerous  family,  one  of  whom,  Robert  P.,  was  a  lead- 
ing member  of  the  House  of  Representatives,  a  Minister  to  Den- 


76  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

mark  and  a  Territorial  Judge.  Hannah,  his  daughter,  became 
the  second  wife  of  the  Rev.  Asa  Brooks,  pastor  of  the  churches 
of  French  Creek  and  Clarksburg,  West  Virginia.  Mr.  Flenni- 
ken  died  at  an  advanced  age  crowned  with  many  honors  and 
blest  with  a  hope  full  of  immortality. 

As  successors  in  office,  Andrew  McClelland,  Henry  Jen- 
nings, Robert  Morrison,  Josias  Lowrie,  William  McClelland  and 
Samuel  Harper  are  worthy  of  mention. 

In  this  community  Mr.  Harper  was  a  prominent  member. 
He  was  son-in-law  of  Dr.  John  McMillan,  having  married  Mrs. 
Jane  Moorhead,  then  a  widow.  Mr.  Harper  is  spoken  of  as  hav- 
ing been  a  very  hospitable  and  worthy  citizen,  once  honored  with 
the  Sheriffalty  of  the  county.  Of  the  character  and  standing  of 
his  associates  in  the  eldership,  we  are  unable  to  speak,  as  no 
available  materials  are  at  hand. 

David,  father  of  Hon.  James  Veech,  having  served  as  an  el- 
der in  this  church  for  a  number  of  years,  in  1832  removed  to 
Dunlap's  Creek  Church  and  afterward  to  Uniontovvn,  where  he 
became  a  member  of  the  session  of  that  church  and  where  he 
died  in  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  Before  leaving  New 
Providence  Church,  Mr.  Veech  gave  in  marriage  his  only 
daughter  to  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad,  then  pastor  of  the  church  of 
Uniontown. 

OTHER    ITEMS. 

In  this  connection  certain  historical  items  may  be  now  in- 
troduced. The  exact  date  of  the  first  house  erected  by  New 
Providence  congregation  cannot  now  be  determined.  Tradition 
says  it  was  a  log  structure,  located  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  dis- 
tant from  the  present  building.  In  that  house  of  primitive  style, 
among  others  who  proclaimed  the  Gospel,  was  the  distinguished 
Dr.  Ewing,  of  Philadelphia,  while  on  his  tour  as  one  of  the  Com- 
missioners to  locate  the  Mason  and  Dixon's  line,  in  the  year 
1784.  The  ground  on  which  stands  the  present  edifice  was  pur- 
chased from  John  Crawford,  on  which  was  erected  a  log  build- 
ing, 30x35  feet.  In  this  house  the  congregation  worshiped  for 
more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century.  In  describing  the  building, 
Hon.  James  Veech  says:     "When  we  first  began  to  attend  church 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  TJ 

and  during  all  our  residence  there,  the  building  was  an  old  log 
one,  in  which  I  have  listened  to  long  sermons  in  the  winter,  with- 
out fire.  It  was  an  open  house,  two  stories,  no  floor  aloft  and  the 
windows  often  broken."  In  the  year  1836  this  old  uncomforta- 
ble house  gave  place  to  a  new  brick,  43x53  feet,  at  a  cost  of 
some  $1,500.  A  brick  church  of  similar  dimensions,  in  the  year 
1852  was  erected  in  the  village  of  Carmichaels.  The  cost  of  the 
ground,  house  and  fixtures  was  some  ^2,300. 

ENDOWMENTS. 

By  will  of  William  Hale,  bearing  date,  April  ist,  1803,  this 
church  became  legatee  to  a  farm  of  130  acres.  To  the  trustees 
possession  was  given,  March  31st,  1804,  by  the  executor,  Joseph 
Brant,  at  which  time  one  year's  rent  of  $80  became  due,  payable 
in  "good  whiskey"  at  forty  cents  per  gallon.  In  this  era  of  ad- 
vanced temperance  sentiment,  the  trustees  could  not  be  induced 
to  risk  their  reputation,  by  contracting  for  the  payment  of  rent  in 
whiskey,  either  good  or  bad,  as  a  means  to  procure  material  aid 
for  the  support  of  the  ministry  and  for  other  purposes. 

TRUSTEES. 

From  an  early  period  the  finances  of  this  church  have  been 
managed  by  a  Board  of  Trustees  appointed  by  the  Legislature  in 
1804.  With  few  exceptions  these  men  have  passed  away.  For 
their  work's  sake  they  deserve  to  be  held  in  grateful  remem- 
brance. Theirs  has  been  a  work  not  only  gratuitous  and  re- 
sponsible, but  oftentimes  perplexing,  demanding  much  thought, 
wise  counsels  and  forecast. 

RULING    ELDERS    OF    1 839. 

At  the  begining  of  the  present  pastorate,  the  ruling  elders 
were  six  in  number.  They  were  men  high  in  reputation  in  the 
community,  men  of  integrity  and  moral  worth,  men  of  piety  and 
large  influence. 

Of  John  Rea,  Sr.,  it  may  be  said  his  religious  character  was 
strongly  marked  by  tender  devotional  feeling.  Under  the  preach- 
ing of  the  word  he  was  often  seen  in  tears  and  could  seldom  lead 
in  social  prayer  without  evincing  strong  emotion.  In  1836  he 
was  Commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly  in  Pittsburgh,  prior 


78  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

to   the  disruption   of  the  church.     He  died  in  hope,  November, 
1847. 

Daniel,  son  of  Hugh  Stephenson,  was  a  man  of  exemplary 
character,  a  regular  attendant  on  the  public  means  of  grace  in 
summer  and  winter,  although  living  some  seven  miles  distant 
from  the  church.  His  translation  to  the  better  land  was  preceded 
by  a  long  series  of  afflictions,  which  he  bore  with  commendable 
submission.  He  died  trusting  in  the  merits  of  the  Redeemer, 
September,  1856. 

George  Davis,  early  indoctrinated  in  Bible  truth  and  firmly 
adhering  to  his  religious  convictions,  shared  largely  the  respect 
and  confidence  of  both  pastor  and  congregation.  Unostenta- 
tious and  without  guile,  he  sought  to  please  God  by  a  life  con- 
formable to  his  will.     He  fell  asleep  in  Jesus,  November,  1861. 

William  was  the  son  and  successor  in  office  of  John  Arm- 
strong. From  choice  and  sympathy  he  was  in  full  accord  with 
the  church  in  which  he  had  his  birth  and  training.  Naturally  he 
possessed,  in  a  high  degree,  those  domestic  and  social  qualities 
so  well  suited  to  please  and  ingratiate.  A  lover  of  hospitality, 
his  house  was  ever  open  for  the  entertainment  of  guests.  Few 
excelled  him  in  the  kindly  greetings  he  was  wont  to  give  to  a 
large  circle  of  acquaintances  and  friends.  Presbyterial  and  Syn- 
odical  meetings  were  to  him  occasions  of  special  interest  and  en- 
joyment. Supported  by  the  gracious  assurances  of  the  Master, 
he  departed  this  life,  December,  1861. 

Henry  was  the  son  of  Hugh  Barclay,  an  early  settler  and 
representative  in  the  Legislature  from  this  county.  In  his  offi- 
cial life  Elder  Barclay  possessed  largely  the  esteem  of  the  con- 
gregation and  of  the  members  of  session.  In  the  spring  of  1858, 
he,  with  his  large  and  interesting  family,  emigrated  and  became  a 
resident  of  Iowa. 

Elder  Charles  Swan,  of  English  ancestry,  was  the  son  of 
Charles,  one  of  the  early  .settlers  on  Muddy  Creek.  Prompt, 
conscientious  and  exemplary,  he  ruled  well,  both  in  his  own  and 
in  the  house  of  God.  For  twenty-eight  years  he  was  a  member 
of  the  Board  of  Trustees  and  as  treasurer,  did  much  to  keep  the 
finances  of  the  church  in  a  ^ood  condition.     On  three  of  his  sons 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  79 

the  mantle  of  the  eldership  has  fallen.  To  the  regret  of  his 
many  friends,  Mr.  Swan  removed  to  Ohio,  where  he  closed  his 
useful  life. 

SKETCH  OF  THE  PRESENT  PASTORATE. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Washington,  in  June, 
1839,  a  licentiate  of  that  body  had  just  obtained  permission  to 
itinerate  beyond  its  bounds.  His  face  was  set  westward  and  his 
purpose  formed  to  pitch  his  tent  somewhere  in  the  widening  mis- 
sionary fields  then  open  in  the  new  States  and  territories.  Before 
taking  leave  of  Presbytery,  however,  a  fellow  licentiate,  Mr.  John 
M.  Smith,  appeared,  and  through  his  urgent  solicitation,  the 
present  writer,  with  some  hesitation,  was  induced  to  visit  this 
field.  On  the  first  Sabbath  of  July,  1839,  he  delivered  to  the 
church  of  New  Providence,  his  first  message,  from  2  Cor.  9:15. 
After  preaching  some  two  months  as  supply,  a  unanimous  call 
for  two-thirds  of  his  time,  on  a  salary  of  ;^300  was  made  out, 
moderated  by  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad.  The  call  having  been  duly 
accepted,  January  15th,  1840,  was  fixed  as  the  time  for  ordina- 
tion and  installation.  Rev.  A.  G.  F'airchild  was  appointed  to 
preach  the  usual  sermon  and  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad  to  preside  and 
deliver  ihe  charges.  The  other  third  of  the  pastor's  time  was  to 
be  given  to  the  church  of  Jefferson,  on  a  salary  of  $100.  This 
arrangement  continued  until  the  spring  of  1849,  ^^hen  at  the  pas- 
tor's request,  he  was  released  from  the  charge  at  Jefferson,  with  a 
view  of  giving  his  whole  time  to  New  Providence  Church,  with  a 
promise  of  $350  salary  and  permission  to  preach  on  alternate 
Sabbath  evenings  at  Greensboro. 

January  14th,  1848,  Paul  Rea,  John  N.  Flenniken  and  Wil- 
liam Crawford  were  added  to  the  eldership.  After  serving  in 
this  office  ten  years,  Mr.  Flenniken  emigrated  and  made  his 
home  in  Iowa.  Mr.  Crawford,  after  twelve  years  acceptable  ser- 
vice, rested  from  his  labors  and  entered  into  rest,  May  19th,  i860. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

The  enrolled  membership  of  this  church  in  1839  numbered 
fifty-five,  of  whom  sixteen  were  males  and  thirty-nine  females. 
Since  that  date  there  has  been  a  steady,  though  moderate  growth, 
by  accessions,  mainly  on  profession.     At   the    close   of  the  first 


8o  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

decade  there  were  fifty-eight  additions;  in  the  second  decade, 
ninety-five,  and  during  the  third,  seventy-one.  In  the  mean 
time  our  membership  has  been  greatly  depleted  and  our  moral 
and  pecuniary  strength  annually  diminished  by  deaths  and  re- 
movals. Since  January,  1848,  two  additional  sets  of  elders  have 
been  invested  with  official  authority.  These  were  Solon  B. 
Swan,  John  Rea  and  Thomas  L.  Cummins,  December  12th,  1858; 
also,  February,  1873,  Ralston  Williams,  Aaron  Gregg  and  Sam- 
uel Bunting.  Mr.  Cummins,  after  serving  many  years  with 
much  zeal  and  ability,  together  with  his  large,  intelligent  and 
well  trained  famil}^,  left  us  and  became  a  resident  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa.  Ralston  Williams,  also,  after  a  brief  term  in  the  elder- 
ship, left  this  for  another  church  in  Monongahela  City. 

For  many  years  in  its  official  acts  the  session  of  this  church 
has  had  the  good  fortune  to  harmonize.  With  few  exceptions, 
church  members  have  also  been  careful  to  study  the  things  that 
make  for  peace. 

Until  the  spring  of  1873,  New  Providence  Church  never 
sustained  a  separate  and  independent  existence.  From  its  earli- 
est recognition,  it  had  a  connection  with  Dunlap's  Creek,  George's 
Creek,  Ruff"'s  Creek,  Tent,  Jefferson  and  Greensboro.  While 
Jefferson  made  part  of  the  pastoral  charge,  there  were  in  that 
church  fifty-three  additions.  The  members  at  Greensboro  were 
mainly  connected  with  New  Providence  and  so  continued  until 
June,  1867,  when,  by  order  of  Presbytery,  they  became  a  sep- 
arate organization,  with  a  membership  of  thirty-eight,  increased 
to  fifty  in  1873. 

BEQUEST. 

In  October,  1866,  a  bequest  of  ;^500  came  into  the  hands  of 
the  trustees  from  the  estate  of  Alexander  Davidson,  Captain  of 
Company  F,  of  the  Eighth  Pennsylvania  Cavalry.  This  bequest 
was  applied  in  1867  to  the  repairing  of  the  two  houses  of  wor- 
ship belonging  to  the  congregation. 

BENEVOLENT    CONTRIBUTIONS. 

During  a  period  of  thirty-seven  years  contributions  were 
as  follows  :  P"or  Home  Missions,  Jg866;  Foreign  Missions,  ;^i,- 
402;    Education,  $1,436;  Publication,  1^147 ;   Church   Erection, 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  51 

S404;  Ministerial  Relief  Fund,  $26^;  Freedmen,  $155;  Sustenta- 
tion,  530;  making  an  aggregate  of  ;^4,697. 

For  several  years  the  plan  adopted  by  the  session  for  raising 
money  for  benevolent  objects,  is  that  of  districting  the  congrega- 
tion and  appointing  collectors  to  receive  the  offerings  at  specified 
times,  usually  every  two  months. 

For  contingent  expenses  Sabbath  collections  are  taken  up. 
And  for  the  payment  of  the  pastor's  salary,  voluntary  subscrip- 
tions are  secured. 

In  commemoration  of  the  reunion  of  the  Old  and  New 
School  branches  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  the  General  As- 
sembly recommended  the  raising  of  a  five  million  fund.  To  this 
fund  this  church  contributed  the  sum  of  ;S550,  about  one-half  of 
which  was  expended  on  home  objects. 

RELIGIOUS    MEANS    AND    OBSERVANCES. 

Besides  the  usual  Sabbath  services,  the  weekly  prayer  meet- 
ing, family  religion  and  Christian  education  have  received  a 
measure  of  attention.  Many  of  the  children  and  youth  in  years 
past  were  encouraged  to  memorize  and  recite  the  Shorter  Cate- 
chism.    For  these  recitations  copies  of  the  Bible  were   donated. 

PASTORAL   WORK. 

In  summarizing  the  pastoral  work  done  in  the  congregation 
from  1839  to  1887,  the  following  items  may  be  reported,  including 
a  period  of  forty-eight  years : 

Sermons  delivered,  not  including  addresses  and  lectures, 
4,540.  Additions  on  profession  and  certificate,  400.  Baptism  of 
infants,  159,  and  of  adults,  102;  total,  261.  Members  dismissed 
to  other  churches,  125.  Removed  without  certificate,  stricken 
from  the  roll  and  dealt  with  by  the  session,  fifty-eight.  Deaths, 
eighty.     Present  number,  105. 

TEMPERANCE. 

Most  of  the  members  of  this  church  for  many  years  have 
been  pledged  to  total  abstinence  from  all  intoxicants.  Members 
of  the  Sabbath  School,  also,  of  proper  understanding,  are  en- 
couraged to  thus  pledge  themselves.     A  member  who  for  some 


82  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

time   embarked  in   distilling  was   suspended.     Others  known  to 
drink  to  intoxication  have  been  disciplined. 

CO-OPERATION    OF    LADIES. 

As  helpers  in  beneficent  work  in  the  interest  of  the  church, 
the  lady  members  have  been  greatly  useful.  In  their  social  meet- 
ings for  prayer  and  other  purposes  and  in  their  private  devotions 
and  missionary  efforts,  they  have  done  much  to  encourage  the 
pastor  and  to  strengthen  his  hands.  In  June,  1872,  the  ladies  or- 
ganized a  Missionary  Society,  the  second  formed  in  the  bounds 
of  the  Presbytery.  This  society  meets  monthly  for  prayer,  con- 
ference and  other  objects  in  the  interest  of  the  cause  and  does 
much  to  swell  the  contributions  to  the  cause  of  missions. 

SABBATH    SCHOOL. 

In  the  department  of  church  work  the  Sabbath  School  holds 
an  important  place.  It  is  matter  of  regret  that  in  the  schools  of 
this  church  but  few  materials  have  been  preserved  for  historic  de- 
tails. Of  the  exact  time  of  organization  there  seems  to  be  no  ex- 
isting record.  It  is  supposed  to  be  one  of  the  earliest  schools, 
as  to  organization,  in  the  county.  For  a  considerable  time  after 
its  formation,  the  method  of  instruction  comprised  Bible  reading, 
reciting  Scripture,  Hymns  and  the  Catechism.  In  some  in- 
stances large  portions  of  Scripture  and  sacred  poetry  were 
memorized. 

Since  the  erection  of  the  church  in  Carmichaels,  two  schools 
have  been  in  working  order.  Both  are  regularly  supplied  with 
the  periodicals  of  the  Board  of  Publication.  By  contributions 
raised  in  the  schools,  the  publications  are  paid  for. 

ADDITIONAL    ELDERS. 

On  the  eighth  day  of  August,  1880,  Mr.  Josiah  H.  Rea  and 
Mr.  Ellis  B.  Bailey,  being  duly  elected  and  having  signified  their 
acceptance  of  the  office,  were  ordained  and  installed  ruling  elders. 

As  a  church,  God  has  given  to  us  many  proofs  of  his  pa- 
ternal favor.  In  a  spiritual  point  of  view,  he  has  fulfilled  his 
pledge  to  the  children  of  the  fathers,  favored  as  they  are  with 
the  means  of  grace  and  with  a  place  in  Israel. 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  53 

Though  it  is  not  our  joy  to  speak  of  any  powerful  and  ex- 
tensive revival,  yet  upon  us  mercy  drops  have  occasionally  fallen 
and  seasons  of  refreshing  and  ingathering  have  marked  our  pro- 
gress. These  tokens  of  the  divine  favor  have  nerved  us  for  toil 
in  the  vineyard  and  cheered  us  in  our  pilgrimage.  When  the 
Lord  Cometh  to  write  up  the  people,  it  will  be  found  that  this 
and  that  man  were  born  in  Zion.  On  various  occasions,  besides 
quickening  the  zeal  and  imparting  fresh  vitality  to  the  member- 
ship, accessions  of  ten,  twenty  or  more  have  served  to  swell  our 
ranks.  A  survey  of  the  past  may  well  beget  serious  reflections. 
The  fathers  and  mothers  in  Israel,  where  are  they  ?  Active  once 
in  laying  the  foundation  for  the  church's  growth,  long  since  their 
mortal  remains  have  been  laid  to  rest  in  the  adjacent  cemetery. 
From  their  lowly  resting  place,  a  voice  silent,  though  eloquent, 
seems  to  say  to  us:  "Whatsoever  thy  hand  findeth  to  do,  do  it 
with  thy  might." 

Recalling  past  historical  details  may  serve  also  the  end  of 
prompting  to  humility.  Unlike  others  we  could  name,  this 
church  has  done  little  towards  furnishing  the  Gospel  field  with 
laborers.  Of  the  youth  who  became  pious  under  former  pas- 
tors, we  can  point  to  no  one  in  the  ministry.  And  since  the  be- 
ginning of  the  present  pastorate,  though  several  young  men  re- 
ceived a  college  education,  only  two  members  of  this  church  have 
entered  the  ministry — Hugh  Aretas  Barclay  and  John  Calvin  Mc- 
Clintock.  The  former  of  these  is  no  longer  enrolled  among  the 
ministers  of  the  Gospel.  This  fact  is  humiliating  and  calls  for 
serious  thought.  That  this  review  may  serve  to  strengthen  the 
bonds  of  Christian  brotherhood  and  lift  us  up  to  a  higher  plane 
of  personal  consecration  is  the  earnest  prayer  of  the  author  of 
these  lines. 

SUPPLEMENTARY. 

On  September  8th,  1876,  New  Providence  Church  held  a 
centenary  meeting  which  proved  to  be  an  enjoyable  occasion. 
At  the  hour  of  10  o'clock,  a.  m.,  the  congregation  convened  and 
was  organized  by  the  election  of  Paul  Rea,  as  President ;  S.  B. 
Swan,  as  Vice  President  and  John  Armstrong,  Secretary. 

After  prayer  by  Rev.  Francis  Downey,  a   Baptist  minister. 


84  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

the  congregation  sang  the  Coronation  hymn.  The  pastor  then 
.stated  that  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad,  who  was  expected  to  be  present, 
could  not  attend.  A  letter  was  read  from  Hon.  James  Veech, 
who  had  been  invited,  expressing  regret  that  he  could  not  be 
present. 

Rev.  J.  C.  McClintock,  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
of  Burlington,  Iowa,  read  selections  from  the  Scriptures.  Hymn 
647,  of  the  Hymnal,  was  now  sung,  after  which  the  historical 
discourse  prepared  by  the  pastor  was  delivered,  at  the  close  of 
which  the  choir  sang  from  "Pure  Gold"  the  good  old  way. 

Revs.  McClintock,  son  of  the  pastor,  H.  O.  Rosborough, 
John  Huston,  of  the  M.  E.  Church  and  W.  S.  Danley,  of  the  C. 
P.  Church,  being  called  on,  entertained  the  audience  with  remin- 
iscences and  appropriate  remarks. 

ADDENDA. 

In  the  year  1882,  the  congregation  took  down  and  rebuilt 
the  church  in  the  country  on  a  more  eligible  site,  at  a  cost  of 
about  ;^i,5oo. 

The  church  in  Carmichaels  has  also  been  rebuilt  in  modern 
style  and  neatly  refurnished  at  a  cost  of  some  ^2,500.  At  the 
rededication  in  April,  1887,  Revs.  M.  C.  Bailey,  and  Dr.  James  I. 
Brownson  and  Dr.  James  Dinsmore,  classmates  of  the  pastor, 
were  present  and  took  part  in  the  services. 

Of  the  members  in  communion  in  1840,  only  three  are  now 
on  our  roll  as  survivors. 

The  marriages  solemnized  number  207. 

The  pastor  is  now  in  his  forty-ninth  year  of  service  in  this 
congregation  and  is  hopeful  of  doing  still  further  service  for  the 
Master,  to  whom  he  is  greatly  indebted  and  to  whom  be  all  the 
praise  for  any  good  accomplished. 


GEORGE'S  CREEK. 


BY    REV.    H.    O.     ROSBOROUGH. 

The  congregation  of  George's  Creek  was  collected   by  Mr. 
James  Power,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  who 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  85 

visited  this  county  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1774.  There  is  no 
one  living,  perhaps,  who  knows  when  the  first  sermon  within  its 
bounds  was  preached.  It  is  presumed,  however,  that  at  least 
three  years  before  the  Declaration  of  American  Independence 
was  made  there  was  Presbyterian  preaching  in  the  neighborhood  ; 
for  the  lot  of  ground  on  which  Mt.  Moriah  Church  is  erected  was 
conveyed  to  the  Presbyterians  by  Joseph  Caldwell  in  the  year 
1773.  The  same  year  a  small  log  church  was  commenced  and 
this  is  known  to  have  been  the  first  house  of  worship  built  by 
any  denomination  within  the  limits  of  what  is  now  Fayette  coun- 
ty, Pa.  The  house  and  location  were  called  Mt.  Moriah,  but  the 
people  worshiping  in  it  were  called  the  congregation  of  George's 
Creek.  After  standing  about  half  a  century  it  was  so  far  decay- 
ed as  to  be  no  longer  fit  for  occupancy  ;  it  was  removed  and  near 
its  site  a  school  house  was  built  which  long  served  as  a  place  for 
regular  preaching.  Finally,  in  the  year  1858,  the  school  house 
becoming  unsuitable  for  the  size  and  convenience  of  the  congre- 
gation worshiping  there,  the  third  and  present  house,  on  the  same 
ground,  was  built  at  an  expense  of  ;gi,ioo,  and  on  the  3d  of 
March  following,  it  was  free  from  debt,  dedicated  to  the  worship 
of  the  triune  God.  About  ten  years  after  the  first  preaching 
at  Mt.  Moriah,  the  members  of  Presbyterian  families  on  the 
north  side  of  the  creek  had  so  far  increased  that  Presbytery 
granted  them  as  many  supplies  as  were  granted  to  Mt.  Moriah, 
and  this  part  of  the  congregation  was  called  Lower  George's 
Creek  and  the  old  place  Upper  George's  Creek.  Mr.  Power  re- 
turned cast  of  the  mountains  in  the  fall  of  1774,  and  having  re- 
ceived ordination  from  his  Presbytery,  finally,  in  1776,  removed 
with  his  family  to  this  county  and  took  up  his  residence  on  De- 
lap's  Creek,  now  called  Dunlap's  Creek.  Here  he  remained 
about  two  years  and  extended  his  labors  over  the  greater  part  of 
the  territory  now  embraced  in  the  counties  of  Westmoreland  and 
Fayette.  At  this  time  the  principal  Presbyterian  families  on 
George's  Creek  were  the  following,  viz.:  Henry  Robison,  Jo- 
seph Caldwell,  David  Frame,  Robt.  Ritchie,  Wm.  Hill,  Robt. 
McClain,  Theophilus  Phillips,  Sr.,  Philip  Dils,  Sr.,  John  Hill, 
John  Pollock,  James  Barclay,  Thos.  Ramsay,   Enoch   Abraham, 


86  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

Paul  Laish,  Jas.  Cross,  Henry  Jennings,  John  Wilson  and  George 
Wilson,  from  whom  George's  Creek  and  George's  township  re- 
ceive their  names.  In  1778  Mr.  Power  removed  to  Mt.  Pleasant, 
'out  continued  to  supply  occasionally  at  George's  Creek,  as  did 
also  the  Rev.  James  Dunlap,  afterward  settled  at  Laurel  Hill. 

In  1 78 1  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  was  constituted  by  the 
Synod  of  New  York  and  Philadelphia  and  held  its  first  meeting 
at  Pigeon  Creek  in  the  fall  of  that  year.  P"rom  that  time  the 
congregation  received  occasional  supplies  from  the  Presbytery. 
The  church  was  not  regularly  supplied  until  the  year  1788,  when 
the  Rev.  James  Finley,  by  appointment  of  Presbytery,  ordained 
to  the  eldership,  Henry  Robison,  Jas.  Caldwell,  David  Frame, 
Robt.  Ritchie,  Wm.  Hill  and  Robt.  McCIain.  The  number  of 
communicants  was  now  about  fifty.  Among  the  supplies  which 
at  that  period  were  sent  them  by  Presbytery  we  notice  the  names 
of  Thaddeus  Dodd  and  John  Brice. 

In  1789  the  people  of  Lower  George's  Creek  purchased  a  lot 
of  ground  of  Richard  Brown  and  erected  a  log  building  about 
twenty  feet  square,  which  they  occupied  as  a  place  of  worship  in 
the  winter.  In  the  summer,  in  pleasant  weather,  they  held  their 
services  in  the  grove.  In  the  following  winter  they  united  with 
Dunlap's  Creek  in  presenting  a  call  to  Rev.  Samuel  Porter,  which 
he  declined  in  favor  of  one  from  Polk  Run  and  Congruity. 

In  the  fall  and  winter  of  I790-'9I  they  were  regularly  sup- 
plied by  the  ministrations  of  the  Rev.  Robt.  M.  Finley,  who  had 
recently  come  from  South  Carolina.  He  introduced  Watts'  ver- 
sion of  the  Psalms,  in  consequence  of  which,  some  of  the  con- 
gregation, among  whom  were  'Squire  Ross,  Thos.  Ramsay  and 
James  Cross,  withdrew  and  connected  themselves  with  the  Asso- 
ciate Reformed  Church.  Mr.  Finley  soon  afterwards  removed  to 
Kentucky,  where  having  been  suspended  from  the  ministry  for 
intemperance,  he  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. 

In  1 79 1  the  congregation  north  of  the  creek  enlarged  their 
church  lot  by  a  purchase  from  Lsaac  Phillips,  Sr.,  and  set  about 
erecting  a  frame  meeting  house  48x36.  This  was  not  finished 
for  a  long  time  after;  standing  so  long  the  people  called  it  the 
"Old  Frame."     From    this   time   the  congregation  enjoyed  the 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  87 

visits  of  more  frequent  supplies,  among  whom  were  Wm.  Swan, 
Geo.  Hill,  Thos.  Marquis,  Boyd  Mercer,  Jacob  Jennings,  Thos. 
Moore  and  David  Smith.  In  the  year  1816,  this  building,  which 
had  become  quite  untenantable,  was  thoroughly  repaired  and 
partly  renewed  at  an  expense  of  near  ^1,000.  About  this  time 
Alex.  McClelland  attempted  to  alienate  the  property  from  the 
congregation,  but  was  defeated  by  A.  Oliphant,  Philip  Dils  and  J. 
W.  Nicholson,  who  succeeded  in  perfecting  the  title  to  the  Pres- 
byterian church.  Again,  in  1836,  the  house  was  repaired  at  a 
cost  of  about  $6oo.  The  pulpit  was  at  this  time  changed 
from  the  west  side  to  the  north  end,  closing  the  door  at  the  north 
end  and  still  leaving  the  doors  at  the  south  end  and  east  side. 
Finally,  in  1865,  this  house  was  again  repaired,  at  a  cost  of  ^i,- 
100.  The  house  was  now  for  the  first  time  plastered,  the  pulpit 
was  lowered  and  the  door  in  the  east  side  closed  up,  leaving  the 
double  door  in  the  south  end  and  making  the  house  more  comfor- 
table than  at  any  period  of  the  seventy-four  years  of  its  existence  ; 
and  this  arrangement  remains  to  this  day,  July,  1887.  The  early 
supplies  were  Dr.  J.  Power,  Dr.  John  McMillan,  Thaddeus  Dodd, 
John  Brice,  James  Hughes,  Joseph  Patterson,  Jas.  Dunlap,  Jos. 
Smith,  John  McPherrin,  Sam'l  Porter,  Boyd  Mercer,  Robt.  Mar- 
shall and  Wm.  Swan,  who  probably  preached  the  first  sermon  at 
Mt.  Moriah,  or  at  least,  in  the  neighborhood,  George  Hill,  Thos. 
Marquis,  Jacob  Jennings,  Thos.  Moore,  James  Finley,  &c. 

The  first  pastor  was  David  Smith.  Presbytery  met  at 
George's  Creek,  August  20th,  1794,  and  ordained  him  pastor  of 
George's  Creek  and  Tent  (the  Tent  at  that  time  including  Union- 
town.)     This  relation  was  dissolved  in  the  fall  of  1797. 

James  Adams  was  the  second  pastor.  He  was  ordained  and 
installed  at  George's  Creek,  October  i6th,  1799.  His  pastoral 
charge  included  New  Providence  and  Tent,  or  as  then  called. 
Muddy  Creek  and  Union.     In  1808  he  resigned  George's  Creek. 

Ashbel  Green  Fairchild  was  the  third  pastor.  In  the  fall  of 
181 7,  Mr.  Fairchild,  then  twenty-two  j'ears  of  age,  a  licentiate  of 
the  Presbytery  of  Jersey,  began  preaching  in  this  region,  under 
the  direction  of  the  Western  Missionary  Society.  In  the  follow- 
ing spring  he  was   appointed  supply,  for  one-half  his  time,  and 


88  PRESBYTERY   OF    REDSTONE. 

in  July,  was  ordained  as  an  evangelist.  For  the  first  three  years 
he  supplemented  his  salary  by  teaching.  When  he  came,  the 
church  numbered  ten  members,  one  of  whom.  Henry  Jennings, 
was  an  elder.  In  1822  Dr.  Fairchild  was  installed  pastor  of  the 
churches  of  George's  Creek,  Morgantown  and  Greensboro,  with 
a  salary  of  ;$333.33.  In  1827,  he  resigned  Morgantown  and 
Greensboro,  and  was  installed  over  Tent  one  half  his  time  at  a 
salary  of  ^200.  In  1829  there  was  a  great  revival  in  the  George's 
Creek  Church.  Within  one  year  eighty  persons  united  with  the 
church.  On  account  of  an  attack  of  a  disease  of  the  lungs,  Dr. 
Fairchild  spent  the  winter  of  1833  and  '34  in  the  South  and  his 
pulpits  were  supplied  by  Rev.  James  McDougall,  his  brother-in- 
law.  In  1836  his  salary  was  raised  to  ^500,  in  consequence  of  a 
call  he  received  to  Pigeon  Creek.  In  April,  1854,  Dr.  Fairchild 
resigned  his  charge  of  this  church,  having  served  it  as  supply 
and  pastor  for  thirty-six  and  a  half  years.  Dr.  Fairchild  remain- 
ed pastor  of  the  Tent  church  until  his  death,  June  30th,  1864. 
On  July  2d  the  four  elders  of  Tent  church  deposited  his  body  be- 
side kindred  dust  in  the  cemetery,  at  Old  Frame,  Pa.  On  this 
solemn  occasion  a  large  assembly  listened  to  a  sermon  by  Rev. 
H.  O.  Rosborough  and  to  an  eloquent  oration  on  the  character 
of  the  deceased,  by  his  old  and  much  attached  friend,  Rev.  Sam'l 
Wilson,  D.  D.  Nine  years  after,  Dr.  F's.  devoted  wife  was  buried 
by  his  side.  No  man  ever  lived  in  this  neighborhood  who  let 
his  light  shine  more  widely  or  more  brightly.  He  was  a  pro- 
found classical  scholar,  a  sound  theologian,  an  impressive  preach- 
er, a  dignified  and  influential  Presbyter  and  a  model  Christian 
gentleman. 

Hugh  O.  Rosborough,  the  fourth  pastor,  a  licentiate  of 
Washington  Presbytery  and  twenty-seven  years  of  age,  com- 
menced preaching  in  this  church  the  last  Sabbath  of  July,  1854. 
On  the  5th  of  June,  1855,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  by  Red- 
stone Presbytery,  with  a  salary  of  $500.  On  this  occasion  Rev. 
Mr.  Wallace  preached.  Rev.  John  McClintock  charged  the  pastor 
and  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad  the  people.  During  the  last  twenty- 
•seven  years  Mr.  Rosborough  preached  one-fourth  of  his  time  in 
adjacent  churches,  viz.:     Four  years  at  Mt.    Washington,  twelve 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.    .  89 

years  at  Springhill  Furnace  and  eleven  years  at  Greensboro.  In 
September,  1872,  the  salary  at  George's  Creek  Church  alone  was 
increased  to  $600.  Old  Frame,  on  north  side  of  creek,  was  built 
in  1 79 1.  Mt.  Moriah  Church,  five  miles  distant  and  on  south 
side  of  the  creek,  also  a  frame,  was  built  in  1859.  Rosborough 
Chapel,  in  Smithfield,  a  brick  building,  was  built  in  1885,  the 
house  and  ground  costing  about  $2,700.  Also  George's  Creek 
Church  has  a  part  interest  in  the  stone  church  at  New  Geneva 
and  a  part  interest  in  the  Frame  church  at  VVoodbridge  town.  A 
frame  house,  with  seventeen  acres  of  land  attached  was  bought. 
March  31st,  1866,  of  L.  S.  Hough,  Esq.,  executor  of  the  estate 
of  A.  G.  Fairchild,  D.  D.,  the  same  being  the  house  of  Dr.  F.  and 
the  home  of  his  widow,  until  it  was  sold  for  the  sum  of  $2,188. 
Members,  who  have  become  ministers,  are  the  following:  Revs. 
George  Hill,  John  Crozier,  John  VVray,  Jacob  Pentzer,  Valentine 
Pentzer,  Wm.  Hanna  and  Geo.  L.  Diffenbaugh.  During  Dr.  Fair- 
child's  pastorate  417  members  were  received.  After  deaths,  dis- 
missions, suspensions,  &c.,  118  members  remained  when  he  re- 
signed. Upwards  of  200  had  been  dismissed  to  other  churches. 
During  Mr.  Rosborough's  pastorate  to  date,  July,  1887,  313 
members  have  been  received.  About  175  are  now  living  within 
the  bounds  of  the  congregation.  On  account  of  an  attack  of 
of  vertigo,  March  14th,  1886,  Mr.  Rosborough  was  not  able  to 
preach  for  a  year.  He  is  now  preaching  occasionally,  as  health 
permits. 

[And   at   this    date,   November,    1888,   regularly,  and  with 
health  almost,  if  not  entirely  restored. — Eds.] 


LITTLE  REDSTONE. 


BY    REV.    B.    M.    KERR. 

This  church  was  organized  by  the  Rev.  Jacob  Jennings  in  a 
log  cabin  that  stood  close  to  where  the  Township  Hall  now 
stands.     The  year  of  its  organization   is  uncertain.     The  author 


go  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

of  "Old  Redstone,"  Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  Smith,  fixes  its  date  in  the 
year  1785.  There  is  no  evidence  that  this  was  the  case.  The 
year  of  its  organization  is  supposed  to  have  been  1797,  although 
the  loss  of  the  early  church  records  renders  positive  evidence 
upon  that  point  unobtainable.  For  the  same  reason  the  names 
of  the  constituent  members  of  the  organization  cannot  be  given. 
The  first  ruling  elders  chosen  were  Joseph  Lyon,  ordained  about 
1799,  John  Blythe  and  John  Wells,  1805.  Among  those  who 
served  as  elders  in  the  early  history  of  the  church  may  also  be 
mentioned  William  Steele,  John  Johnston,  John  Hazlip  and  Da- 
vid Hough,  ordained,  181 5;  then  John  McKennan  and  Peter 
Umrickhouse,  1820;  John  Gormley  and  Wm.  Forsythe,  1832; 
John  Steele,  Nicholas  Baker  and  Jesse  H.  Duncan,  1836;  Henry 
Barkman,  1853;  William  Hough,  Joseph  Wells  and  James  Cum- 
mings,  January  23d,  1858;  Joshua  V.  Gibbons  and  Wm.  Parkhill, 
April  9th,  1859;  S.  R.  Nutt,  Wm.  F.  Hough,  John  Reed  and 
Henry  Cook,  July  5th,  1873,  and  Sam'l  Wakefield,  1884. 

Little  Redstone  Church  was  supplied  with  preaching  by  the 
pastors  of  Dunlap's  Creek  Church,  and  when  Mr.  Jennings  ended 
his  pastorate.  Rev.  Wm.  Johnston  took  charge.  During  his 
term  of  service  the  organization  of  Little  Redstone  was  discon- 
tinued and  its  members  transferred  to  the  Brownsville  Presby- 
terian Church.  In  1844  Little  Redstone  was  reorganized  by  the 
election  of  William  Steele,  John  Steele,  John  Blythe  and  John 
Wells,  as  ruling  elders.  A  brick  church  was  built  in  1845,  about 
a  half  mile  north  of  the  old  location,  William  Elliott,  William 
Forsythe  and  William  G.  Patterson  being  the  building  commit- 
tee, and  a  burying  ground  laid  out. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Martin  assumed  the  pastorate  and  re- 
mained until  April  13th,  1852,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  the 
Rev.  Robert  M.  Wallace,  January  28th,  1853,  and  ordained  and 
installed,  June  15th,  1853.  This  relation  continued  until  Febru- 
ary, 17th,  1864. 

The  Rev.  Joseph  H.  Stevenson  followed.  May  4th,  1864, 
and  was  ordained  and  installed,  October  I4tli,  1864.  On  the 
24th  of  April,  1866,  Mr.  Stevenson  presented  to  the  Presbytery 
a  request  from  the  two  churches  to  be  recognized  as  separate  and 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  9 1 

distinct  organizations.  The  Presbytery  acceded  to  the  request, 
and  constituted  the  elders  residing  in  the  bounds  of  Little  Red- 
stone Church,  together  with  the  pastor,  as  the  Session  of  the  Lit- 
tle Redstone  Church. 

After  a  pastorate  of  nearly  four  years,  Mr.  Stevenson  re- 
signed and  was  released  by  the  Presbytery,  April  29th,  1868. 
His  successors  to  the  present  time  have  been,  Revs.  George 
Scott,  Stated  Supply,  1868;  Robert  R.  Gailey,  ordained  and  in- 
stalled, June  nth,  1872;  C.  C.  B.  Duncan,  installed,  May  20th, 
1880;  J.  T.  Crumrine,  installed,  May,  1883.  and  B.  M.  Kerr,  Sta- 
ted Supply,  April  17th,  1887.  The  present  membership  is  about 
eighty-seven.  The  Sabbath  School,  under  the  efficient  Superin- 
tendent, Mr.  Wm.  F.  Hough,  is  kept  open  only  during  the  sum- 
mer season  and  is  quite  flourishing. 


SOMERSET. 


BY    REV.    J.    C.    MELOY. 

Somerset,  the  county  seat  of  Somerset  county,  is  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  towns  in  Western  Pennsylvania.  It  is  delight- 
fully situated  on  a  sandy  knoll  looking  out  to  the  east  upon  a 
fertile  scope  of  countrj'-  and  a  mile  away  to  the  west,  upon  the 
foot-hills  of  the  Allegheny  mountains.  It  is  a  very  pleasant 
summer  resort  and  is  visited  by  a  goodly  number  of  people  who 
desire  a  quiet  resting  place  during  "the  heated  term."  The 
church  here,  was  doubtless  organized,  near  the  close  of  the  last 
century,  probably  in  the  year  1796,  but  by  whom,  or  under  what 
circumstances,  is  unknown  at  the  present  time,  all  the  earlier 
records  of  the  church  having  been  lost  in  a  disastrous  fire  which 
occurred  in  1872.  The  name  of  Somerset  appears  for  the  first 
time  in  the  minutes  of  Redstone  Presbytery,  in  a  list  of  churches 
asking  for  supplies,  at  a  meeting  held  on  the  i8th  of  October, 


92  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

1796.  We  infer  from  this  record  that  the  church  was  organized 
a  short  time  before  that,  the  Presbytery  having  failed  to  make 
any  note  of  the  fact.  The  congregation,  probably,  depended 
upon  supplies,  on  up  to  the  year  1817.  as  there  is  no  evidence 
that  a  pastor  had  ever  been  settled  among  them  before  that  time. 
The  first  record  of  a  settlement  is  dated,  October  21st,  1817,  and 
reads  as  follows:  "It  was  resolved  to  hold  a  meeting  at  Somer- 
set, on  the  first  Wednesday  of  December,  at  12  o'clock,  for  the 
purpose  of  ordaining  and  installing  Mr.  Ross  in  his  charge."  At 
the  October  meeting  "Mr.  John  Ross  was  examined  on  his  ex- 
perimental acquaintance  with  religion,  theology,  the  learned  lan- 
guages and  church  history,"  and  Presbytery  sustained  his  an- 
swers as  parts  of  trial  for  ordination.  The  meeting  at  Somerset 
was  held  on  the  3d  of  December,  with  three  ministers  present, 
viz.:  Revs.  Francis  Herron,  James  Graham  and  Thomas  Hunt. 
After  the  propounding  of  the  constitutional  questions,  Mr.  Ross 
was  ordained  and  installed.  Mr.  Graham  preached  the  sermon 
and  Mr  Hunt  presided  and  gave  the  charge.  This  relation  con- 
tinued a  little  less  than  two  years  and  in  October,  18 19,  Presby- 
tery granted  the  request  of  Mr.  Ross  to  be  released.  After  this 
there  was  a  protracted  vacancy,  during  which  time  the  church 
resorted  to  its  long  accustomed  plan  of  asking  Presbytery  to 
send  supplies.  An  old  member  of  the  church  affirms,  that  about 
the  year  1827,  Rev.  Stephen  Frontis,  a  Frenchman,  was  pastor 
for  about  twelve  months,  a  fact  not  referred  to  in  the  minutes  of 
the  Presbytery.  It  is  recorded,  that  at  a  meeting  of  Presbytery, 
held  in  the  Congruity  Church,  on  the  15th  of  June,  1830,  "a  call 
was  presented  to  the  Presbytery,  from  the  congregation  of  Som- 
erset, for  one-half  of  the  ministerial  labors  of  Mr.  S.  Howel  Ter- 
ry, with  the  exception  of  every  eighth  Sabbath,  in  which  they 
promise  him  all  they  can  raise  by  subscription.  A  like  call  was 
presented  from  the  congregation  of  "Genner,"  for  the  other  half  of 
Mr.  Terry's  labors,  with  a  similar  exception,  in  which  they  prom- 
ised him  ;^I20  per  annum,  it  being  understood  that  the  balance 
of  Mr.  Terry's  support  would  be  furnished  by  the  Board  of  Mis- 
sions of  the  General  Assembly."  Mr.  Terry  accepted  and  was 
ordained  and  "installed  as  the  regular  pastor  of  the  united  con- 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  93 

gregations  of  Somerset  and  Genncr,"  July  7th,  1830.  He  con- 
tinued pastor  until  the  autumn  of  1833. 

About  1836  Rev.  Robert  M.  Finley  became  pastor  or  Stated 
Supply  and  served  the  church  for  a  number  of  years.  In  April, 
1841,  supplies  are  again  appointed  by  Presbytery  and  so  contin- 
ued to  be  for  sometime.  His  successor  was  Mr.  Henry  Davis,  who 
took  charge  of  the  congregation  about  the  year  1845  and  con- 
tinued one  year. 

He  was  followed  about  the  year  1849,  by  Rev.  Peter  Has- 
singer,  who  was  pastor  for  two  years. 

After  this  there  appears  to  have  been  another  long  vacancy, 
ending  with  the  short  pastorate  of  Rev.  B.  F.  Myers,  in  1859. 
And  now,  once  more,  the  supply  system  was  adopted,  and  a  num- 
ber of  young  men,  either  from  the  seminary,  or  but  recently 
graduated,  filled  the  pulpit,  among  whom  the  names  of  Lyon, 
Agnew,  Graham  and  Kuhn  are  still  held  in  remembrance.  Of 
these,  Rev.  Loyal  Young  Graham  afterwards  settled  and  con- 
tinued to  discharge  the  duties  of  the  pastoral  office  for  a  period 
of  five  years,  commencing  with  1861.  Mr.  Kuhn  was  here  for 
about  one  year,  but  was  not  installed.  Rev.  Henry  Bain  also 
supplied  the  church  for  one  summer. 

In  1870  Rev.  Wm.  Edgar  became  Stated  Supply  and  served 
the  church  for  a  year  and  a  half 

After  this  there  followed  three  pastorates,  viz. :  Rev.  S. 
S.  Bergen,  from  1876  to  1878;  Rev.  C.  B.  Wakefield,  from  1880 
to  1882,  and  Rev.  C.  C.  B.  Duncan,  from  September,  1882,  to 
May,  1885.  Since  the  release  of  Mr.  Duncan,  the  church  has 
been  vacant,  but  is  now  earnestly  seeking  a  pastor  who  shall  go 
in  and  out  before  the  people. 

The  first  church  building  in  which  the  congregation  was  in- 
terested was  of  stone,  held  jointly  by  the  Reformed  and  Presby- 
terians. This  arrangement  was  not  satisfactory  to  either  congre- 
gation and  the  Presbyterians  sold  out  their  interest  to  their  neigh- 
bor for  the  sum  of  ^8300.  On  the  ist  of  April,  1856,  the  congre- 
gation, through  their  trustees,  Daniel  Stahl  and  Andrew  Stewart, 
bought  a  lot  on  Union  street  of  G.  B.  Fundenberg,  M.  D.,  at  a 
cost  of  $450,  on  which  a  beautiful  brick  church,  36x52   feet  was 


94  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

built,  at  a  cost  of  ^1,650,  and  dedicated,  April  15th,  1857.  This 
house  was  burnt  in  a  disastrous  fire,  which  fairly  swept  the  town, 
on  the  9th  of  May,  1872.  Fortunately  the  congregation  had  an 
insurance  of  ;^2,ooo  on  the  old  building.  With  this  and  the  lib- 
eral assistance  of  many  friends,  they  began  to  rebuild  in  1874, 
and  in  the  following  year  had  the  pleasure  of  worshiping  in  a 
building  which  had  cost  them  ^9,000.  It  is  a  beautiful  structure, 
a  model  of  neatness  and  architectural  skill,  and  a  credit  alike  to 
the  congregation  and  town.  The  congregation  has  always  been 
small  but  spirited,  embracing  many  of  the  very  best  people  in 
the  community.  Their  Board  of  Elders  are  the  following,  viz.: 
Geo.  W.  Benford,  Wm.  Stahl  and  Geo.  H.  Love. 

We  close  this  imperfect  history,  secured  mainly  from  the 
lips  of  an  aged  member  of  the  church,  whose  memory  has  sup- 
plied the  place  of  the  records  lost  in  the  fire,  with  the  last  statis- 
tical report.  The  only  explanation  we  make  of  it  is,  that  the  ad- 
ditions in  the  column  "on  examination"  were  received  during  a 
delightful  season  of  grace  in  February,  1888.  Elders,  three;  ad- 
ded on  examination,  seven ;  by  certificate,  two  ;  whole  No.,  thirty- 
five;  adults  baptized,  three;  Sabbath  School  members,  sixty-five; 
Home  Missions,  $^  ;  Foreign  Missions,  ^5  ;  Sabbath  School  work, 
$4;  Relief  Fund,  ;^io;  Freedmen,  $2;  Sustentation,  $2;  General 
Assembly,  ^3;  Congregational,  ;^I27. 


JENNER. 


The  village  of  Jenner  is  a  little  hamlet  on  the  northern  turn- 
pike in  Somerset  county,  twelve  miles  north  of  the  town  of  Som- 
erset. When  the  first  Presbyterian  sermon  was  preached  here, 
or  by  whom,  is  unknown.  The  records  ot  Redstone  Presbytery 
show  that    Mr.   James   Adams,  who  was  licensed  to  preach  at 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  95 

Fairfield,  April  20th,  1797,  was  appointed  to  preach  at  "Summer- 
set" on  the  fourth  Sabbath  of  June  following  and  at  Quemahon- 
ing  (afterwards  called  Jenner)  on  the  fifth  Sabbath. 

Rev.  John  Ross  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  Som- 
erset Church,  December  3d,  18 17.  It  is  claimed  that  the  minis- 
ters supplying  Somerset  also  preached  at  Jenner.  It  is  probable, 
therefore,  that  after  Mr.  Adams  preached,  the  church  was  still 
dependent  on  supplies  till  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Ross.  When  the 
organization  took  place  we  cannot  tell.  Mr.  Ross'  pastorate 
continued  at  Somerset,  till  October,  18 19.  Then  was  there  at 
both  places,  doubtless,  dependence  on  supplies  for  a  long  time. 
A  venerable  member  of  the  Somerset  Church  says,  that  about  the 
year  1827,  Rev.  Stephen  Frontis,  a  Frenchman,  preached  for 
twelve  months. 

At  Saltsburg,  April  2d,  1828,  Rev.  Samuel  Swan  was  ap- 
pointed to  administer  the  communion  at  Jenner  and  Rev.  John 
H.  Kirkpatrick  to  assist,  and  Rev.  John  H.  Agnewto  preach  one 
Sabbath  at  discretion. 

June  1 5th,  1 830,  Rev.  S.  Howell  Terry  was  called  to  Somerset 
and  Jenner,  each  place  to  have  one-half  the  time,  except  every 
eighth  Sabbath.  Mr.  Terry  was  ordained  and  installed  on  the 
the  7th  of  July,  1830,  and  continued  as  pastor  till  the  autumn  of 

1833- 

In  1836,  probably,  Rev.  Robert  M.  Finley  became  Stated 
Supply  and  continued  till  1840,  when  supplies  were  appointed. 
In  April,  1837,  Somerset  and  Jenner  are  reported  as  having  an 
addition  of  ten  on  examination,  a  membership  of  120,  six  adults 
being  baptized  and  twenty-seven  infants.  How  many  belonged 
to  each  church  we  cannot  tell.  In  1838  nine  were  added  on  ex- 
amination and  one  on  certificate,  and  the  membership  was  127. 
Fifteen  children  were  baptized. 

In  October,  1842,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted  by  " 
Presbytery:  "Resolved,  That  this  Presbytery  memorialize  the 
Board  of  Missions  in  reference  to  the  declining  state  of  Presby- 
terianism  in  the  churches  in  Somerset  county  and  earnestly  en- 
treat said  Board  to  locate  in  that  county  some  efficient  mission- 
ary, with  a  competent  support,  in   hope  that    the    cause  of  truth 


96  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

and  sound  Presbyterianism  may  be  revived  and  promoted." 
What  the  result  of  the  appHcation  was  is  not  shown  by  the  min- 
utes of  Presbytery. 

In  1844  the  committee  on  Domestic  Missions  were  instruct- 
ed to  aid  Somerset  and  Jenner  to  the  amount  of  $150,  in  sup- 
porting some  one  whom  they  might  obtain  to  serve  them.  Ap- 
plication was  made  for  aid  several  times. 

In  1848,  April,  Mr.  Henry  Davis  a  licentiate  of  the  Presby- 
tery of  Hocking,  was  employed  as  Stated  Supply   for    one  year. 

He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Peter  Hassinger,  who  continued 
two  years  or  more. 

After  a  long  vacancy  and  dependence  on  supplies,  Rev.  B.  F. 
Myers,  licentiate,  was  duly  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor,  June 
23d,  1859.     This    pastorate  was    brief,   ending    May    9th,    i860. 

Messrs.  Lyon,  Agnew,  Graham  and  Kuhn  supplied  for  some 
time. 

Rev.  Loyal  Young  Graham  became  pastor  in  1861  and  con- 
tinued for  five  years.     Mr.  Bain  supplied  the  church  for  a  season. 

In  October,  i860,  Somerset  and  Jenner  were  set  over  to 
Blairsville  Presbytery  and  continued  in  that  relation  till  during 
the  time  when  Rev.  Mr.  Edgar  was  Stated  Supply,  from  1870  to 
1872.  Rev.  S.  S.  Bergen  was  pastor  from  1876  to  1878;  Rev.  C. 
B.  Wakefield,  from  1880  to  1882  and  Rev.  C.  C.  B.  Duncan,  from 
1882  to  1885. 

Since  that  time  this  feeble  vine  has  had  but  little  of  the  cul- 
tivation so  essential  to  its  health  and  growth. 

At  one  time  there  was  a  large  Presbyterian  community,  em- 
bracing amongst  others,  the  Duncans,  Hanlins,  Rushabcrgers, 
McMullins,  Dennisons,  Murphys,  Howards,  Landers,  Coopers, 
Boyds,  Griffiths,  Barclays,  &c.  Nearly  all  these  are  gone  and  only 
a  few  members  are  left. 

In  the  early  day,  a  large  log  building  stood  about  a  mile 
east  of  Jenner,  near  the  creek,  called  the  "Log  House."  This 
was  followed  by  a  brick  house  in  town,  on  the  site  of  the  present 
building.  This  second  house  gave  place  to  the  third,  also  of 
brick,  erected  and  dedicated  about  1871,  and  cost  ;$  1,300. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  97 

Daniel  Stahl,  elder  at  Somerset,  for  many  years  attended 
communions  at  Jenner. 

Abram  Biesecker,  one  of  the  present  session,  was  ordained 
in  '71  or '72.  Worth  J.  Picking  and  Wm.  Klein  were  ordained 
and  installed  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  C.  B.  Duncan. 


TENT. 


BY    REV.    M.    C.    BAILEY,    PH.    D. 

It  is  probable  that  the  earliest  Christians  of  this  region  wor- 
shiped in  a  sanctuary  known  as  Union  Church.  It  was  located 
near  the  Morgantown  road,  on  the  land  now  possessed  by  Mr. 
Samuel  Robinson.  The  location  was  then  known  as  "the  Cataba 
War  Path."  People  came  here  to  worship  from  Uniontown  and 
the  surrounding"  country.  They  were  chiefly  Presbyterians  and 
Baptists.  Some  items  of  this  account  are  disputed.  Whatever 
may  be  the  exact  history,  it  is  certain  that  the  Presbyterian  body 
worshiped  at  a  very  early  day  at  a  place  about  a  mile  north  of 
this.  They  came  long  distances,  bringing  their  tents  with  them 
and  remaining  from  Friday  till  Monday.  A  special  tent  was 
provided  for  the  speaker  and  from  this  the  place  came  to  be 
known  as  the  Tent,  which  name  it  still  bears.  It  appears  to  have 
been  called  also  for  a  long  time  afterwards  the  tJnion  Church, 
probably  on  account  of  the  old  church,  referred  to  above,  bearing 
that  name.  The  services  held  at  the  Tent  seem  to  have  been 
somewhat  of  the  nature  of  the  modern  campmeeting.  Services 
were  had  continuously  from  Friday  till  Monday.  It  appears 
that  some  of  the  worshipers  were  seized  with  "the  falling  sensa- 
tion," as  it  was  known  in  the  South. 


98  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

In  1780  the  old  log  church  on  the  Cataba  war  path  was 
burned  down  and  in  1791  or  '92  a  meeting  house  was  erected  at 
the  present  site  of  the  Tent.  It  was  a  log  structure,  thirty-five 
feet  square,  had  a  gallery  on  three  sides  and  a  bird's  nest  pulpit 
on  the  fourth  side. 

So  far  as  can  be  known,  this  church  was  organized  about 
1792  or  '93.  Previous  to  this  time,  members  of  the  church  liv- 
ing within  the  bounds  of  the  congregation  were  connected  with 
the  churches  of  George's  Creek  and  Laurel  Hill.  The  Union- 
town  church  was  not  organized  till  thirty  years  later.  At  the 
time  of  the  organization  the  number  of  communicants  was  small. 
Three  elders  were  ordained,  viz. :  James  Orr,  Joseph  Hadden 
and  John  Bell. 

In  October,  1793,  the  church  united  with  that  of  George's 
Creek  in  presenting  a  call  for  the  ministerial  services  of  Mr.  Da- 
vid Smith,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  and  a  son 
of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Smith.  In  1794  he  was  ordained  and  in- 
stalled pastor  of  these  churches.  He  continued  his  labors  here 
only  about  three  years  and  a  half,  when  he  was  compelled  to  re- 
sign, through  failure  of  pecuniary  support.  He  was  a  man  of 
deep  piety  and  respectable  literary  ability,  and  his  sermons  were 
rich  and  instructive,  but  his  delivery  was  not  engaging,  nor  were 
his  manners  prepossessing.  The  congregation  was  not  greatly 
enlarged  during  this  short  period  of  his  labors. 

During  the  summer  of  1798  the  church  was  visited  by  Mr. 
James  Adams,  a  licentiate  of  Redstone  Presbytery.  After  a 
short  acquaintance  with  him,  the  people  were  so  well  satisfied 
with  his  ministrations,  that  in  October  following,  they  united 
with  the  churches  of  George's  Creek  and  New  Providence,  in 
calling  him  to  be  their  pastor.  After  some  delay,  he  was  in  Oc- 
tober, 1799,  ordained  and  installed  pastor  of  these  congregations. 
He  served  this  church  till  the  year  18 14,  when  he  removed  to 
Ohio.  Mr.  Adams  was  a  man  of  piety  and  unassuming  man- 
ners, but  his  delivery  was  not  good  and  he  attracted  few  to  the 
house  of  God  who  did  not  love  religion  for  its  own  sake.  He 
ordained  Samuel  Salisbury  and  Hugh  McClelland  elders  and  re- 
ceived and  installed  Benjamin  Laughead. 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  99 

There  is  now  a  long  vacanc}-,  during  which  time  the  church 
is  left  in  a  very  destitute  condition.  But  few  supplies  could  be 
granted  by  Presbytery. 

The  Rev.  James  Dunlap,  during  a  short  residence  at  New 
Geneva,  preached  frequently  for  this  church. 

In  1 8 19  the  Rev.  Wm.  Wylie  having  accepted  a  call  and 
settled  in  Uniontown,  the  Tent  congregation  obtained  one-fourth 
of  his  time  as  a  Stated  Supply,  which  they  continued  to  enjoy 
till  his  removal  in  1823.  Mr.  Wylic's  preaching  was  of  a  very 
popular  cast  and  under  his  ministry  the  congregation  was 
strengthened  and  several  accessions  were  made  to  the  church. 
But  the  seed  sown  by  his  instrumentality  afterwards  yielded 
more  abundant  fruit  than  was  visible  during  his  ministry.  Mr. 
Wm.  Nixon  was  ordained  an  elder  by  Mr.  Wylie  in  1820, 

The  Presbytery  of  Redstone  received  under  its  care,  April 
2 1st,  1 818,  Mr.  A.  G.  Fairchild,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of 
New  Jersey.  Previous  to  this  he  had  spent  some  time  in  mis- 
sionary work,  having  been  licensed  by  his  Presbytery,  April, 
1816.  On  the  1st  of  July,  1818,  he  was  ordained  as  an  evan- 
gelist by  Redstone  Presbytery,  then  in  session  at  Pittsburgh. 
We  have  been  informed  by  one  who  heard  the  first  sermon  he 
preached  in  Fayette  county,  that  the  service  was  held  in  a  pri- 
vate house,  in  the  place  known  as  Haydentown.  Word  had  been 
sent  out  to  come  and  hear  the  boy-preacher.  He  was  very 
modest  and  at  the  close  of  the  sermon  was  advised  by  a  friend  to 
take  his  eyes  off  the  ceiling  and  look  the  people  in  the  face.  It 
is  believed  that  he  was  characterized  by  this  modest  peculiarity 
all  his  life.  April  21st,  18 19,  he  was  stationed  at  George's  Creek 
and  Greensboro,  at  a  salary  of  $175  for  the  half  of  his  time.  In 
July  2d,  1822,  he  accepted  a  call  to  George's  Creek,  Greensboro 
and  Morgantown,  for  five-sixths  of  his  time.  The  support  prom- 
ised was  $2,2i3-o3-  I"  October,  1823,  he  supplied  the  Tent  one 
Sabbath.  In  April,  1824,  he  was  appointed  Stated  Supply  at  the 
Tent  for  the  one-sixth  of  his  time.  The  following  year  one- 
fourth  of  his  time  was  taken.  He  says,  "down  to  this  period  no 
records  had  been  kept  of  the  church;  it  was,  therefore,  with 
some  difficulty  that  the  number  of  the  communicants  was  ascer- 


lOO  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

tained  to  be  about  fifty-two,  of  whom  only  six  were  free-holders." 
Among  the  number  thus  referred  to,  we  find  the  name  of  Jane 
Watt,  who  died,  October  i6th,  1882,  aged  one  hundred  years, 
lacking  one  month.  In  1825  a  delightful  refreshing  was  experi- 
enced, which  resulted  in  the  addition  of  thirty  persons  to  the 
church  on  examination.  Among  the  number  were  F.  Hughes 
Oliphant  and  Jane  C.  Oliphant. 

In  1826  Mr.  Fairchild  was  installed  pastor  of  the  Tent  for 
one-half  of  his  time.  The  blessed  results  of  the  revival  con- 
tinued to  be  felt  and  we  find  among  the  number  of  conversions  to 
the  church,  between  the  years  1827  and  1830,  the  names  of  James 
Snyder,  Mary  Snyder  and  Alexander  Deyarman.  In  April, 
1827,  Mr.  Fairchild  asked  leave  to  resign  the  charge  of  Morgan- 
town  and  Greensboro.  In  October  the  request  was  granted  and 
at  the  same  meeting  of  Presbytery  a  call  was  accepted  to  labor 
at  the  Tent  one-half  of  his  time,  the  support  promised  being 
;^200.  In  1825  Mr.  Fairchild  ordained  John  Core  and  Abraham 
Stewart  elders;  in  1830  he  ordained  Eliel  Freeman;  in  1831  re- 
ceived John  Kennedy  Duncan  and  in  1832  ordained  Alex.  De- 
yarman and  Thos.  Madden.  Mr.  Fairchild  was  settled  over  the 
Tent  congregation,  November  2d,  1827,  for  one-half  of  his  time, 
by  a  committee  consisting  of  Geo.  Vaneman,  who  preached  the 
sermon,  and  Wm.  Johnston  who  gave  the  charge. 

In  1830  and  '31,  there  was  another  revival,  which  resulted  in 
the  addition  of  about  fifty  persons  to  the  church.  Still,  Mr. 
Fairchild  says,  "the  peculiar  circumstances  of  this  church  pre- 
vent its  becoming  strong.  In  1824,  out  of  fifty-two  members, 
only  six  were  free-holders,  and  at  present,  among  152  communi- 
cants there  are  but  ten.  The  greatest  part  of  the  members  hav- 
ing no  permanent  abode  and  compelled  to  shift  their  residence, 
and  thus  the  church  loses  the  greater  part  of  its  increase." 

Among  those  received  by  certificate  in  1835,  were  Josiah  S. 
Vankirk  and  Matilda  Vankirk;  by  examination,  January,  1838, 
Mrs.  Ann  Humphreys;  May,  i84i,Wm.  Costcad;  January,  1843, 
Alfred  Stewart;  January,  1845,  John  Oliphant,  Joshua  V.  Gibbons, 
and  Humphrey  Humphries. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  10 1 

The  following  elders  were  ordained  or  received  by  Mr.  Fair- 
child:  Benjamin  Blackford,  in  1834;  F.  Hughes  Oliphant,  in 
1838;  John  Richards,  Josiah  S.  Vankirk  and  Thos.  Towle,  in 
1843;  Wm.  Pastoris  and  John  T.  Smith,  in  1850  and  at  the  same 
time,  Samuel  Duncan  was  received  by  certificate;  Humphrey 
Humphreys,  in  1857.  Mr.  Samuel  Robinson  was  installed,  No- 
vember, 1880.  It  is  worthy  of  note  that  Dr.  Fairchild's  last  offi- 
cial act  was  that  of  moderating  the  session,  August  15th,  1863, 
for  the  purpose  of  receiving  Mr.  Lewis  Snyder  into   the  church. 

Mr.  Fairchild  was  not  long  a  pastor  of  the  Tent  before  he 
began  to  preach  at  Fairchance.  This  he  continued  to  do  as  long 
as  he  lived — Fairchance  being  regarded  as  a  part  of  the  Tent 
congregation.  In  1845  ^^^^  present  church  building  was  erected 
at  Fairchance,  chiefly  through  the  liberality  of  Mr.  F.  H.  Oli- 
phant to  accommodate  Mr.  Fairchild.  In  1854,  Dr.  Fairchild  re- 
signed the  charge  of  George's  Creek,  that  he  might  devote  the 
whole  of  his  time  and  strength  to  Tent  and  Fairchance.  This  he 
continued  to  do  till  the  event  of  his  death. 

The  old  log  structure  which  was  placed  on  the  present  site 
of  the  Tent  in  1791  or  '92,  was  replaced  by  a  brick  structure  in 
1832-33,  at  a  cost  of  about  ;^ 1, 700.  It  is  a  sad  fact,  that  two 
men,  viz.:  Elder  Thomas  Madden  and  Henry  Dimond  were 
killed  in  the  work  of  removing  the   roof  of  the  old   log  church. 

Dr.  Fairchild  preached  his  last  sermon  in  the  Baptist  church 
of  Smithfield,  May  22d,  1864,  from  the  text,  Song  of  Solomon, 
5-16:  "This  is  my  friend."  While  preaching  this  sermon  he 
was  seized  by  his  last  illness,  remitting  fever.  He  died  the  last 
hour  of  June.  An  old  scholar  standing  by  his  bedside  at  this 
time,  exclaimed:  "My  Father,  my  Father,  the  Chariot  of  Israel 
and  the  horsemen  thereof"  The  Rev.  H.  O.  Rosborough,  the 
successor  of  Dr.  Fairchild  in  the  pastorate  of  George's  Creek 
and  his  warm  personal  friend,  preached  the  funeral  sermon,  from 
Ps.  74-24:  "Thou  shalt  guide  me  with  thy  counsel  and  after- 
ward receive  me  to  glory."  The  service  was  closed  with  an  elo- 
quent address  by  the  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson,  D.  D.,  of  Dunlap's 
Creek,  a  life  long  friend  of  the  deceased.  After  these  services, 
which  were  held  in  the  Old  Frame  meeting  house,  the  four  el- 


102  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

ders  of  the  Tent,  viz.:  F.  H.  Oliphant,  Humphrey  Humphreys, 
John  T.  Smith  and  Alex.  Deyarman,  bore  the  precious  dust  of 
this  great  man  to  their  final  resting  place. 

Singular  injustice  has  been  done  to  the  memory  of  Dr.  Fair- 
child  by  the  historians  of  Fayette  county  and  of  Redstone  Pres- 
bytery. His  worth  as  a  man — his  greatness  as  an  author — his 
phenomenal  work  in  the  history  of  the  church  in  this  region, 
have  all  been  overlooked,  not  to  say  slighted.  In  the  Providence 
of  God,  Dr.  Fairchild  was  raised  up  to  beat  back  the  tide  of 
fanaticism  and  false  doctrines,  and  well  did  he  do  his  work.  He 
was  naturally  modest  and  retiring  and  was  almost  forced  into 
this  position  by  his  brethren.  His  works  have  an  almost  world- 
wide circulation  and  are  of  standard  value.  Dr.  Fairchild,  though 
slighted  by  history,  is  sustained  in  the  hearts  of  his  people  and 
his  friends.  A  professor  of  the  Western  Theological  Seminary 
missing  Dr.  Fairchild  from  Synod  that  year  and  learning  the 
cause,  remarked :  "The  archer  has  been  looking  over  the  mem- 
bership of  this  Synod  and  has  selected  the  most  shining  mark 
for  his  arrow." 

For  a  number  of  years  the  church  was  served  by  supplies 
and  pastors  who  remained  a  short  time.  Among  these  were 
Rev.  Messrs.  Wycoff,  Hench,  Perkins,  Dickey,  Martin  and 
Rogers. 

On  the  morning  of  April  i4th,  1878,  the  church  was  burned 
down,  having  taken  fire  from  a  defective  flue.  Every  member  of 
the  congregation  who  came  to  church  that  morning  was  sadden- 
ed in  heart  by  the  sight  of  the  heap  of  ruins.  This  was  a  heavy 
blow  to  the  church,  which  was  weak  already  from  deaths  and  re- 
movals of  its  members.  Some  predicted  that  the  church  would 
not  survive  this  loss,  but  they  did  not  know  the  spirit  of  the  men 
to  whose  hearts  the  Tent  was  a  sacred  place.  With  characteris- 
tic promptness  and  energy  they  went  to  work  to  repair  the  loss. 
;^ 1, 500  was  raised  for  this  work  and  we  have  as  the  result,  the 
present  neat  and  comfortable  structure. 

The  building  was  rededicated  on  August  4th,  '78,  and  the 
Rev.  S.  S.  Bergen  was  installed  pastor  of  the  congregation  at  the 
same  time.     He  continued  to  serve  the  congregation    in  this  ca- 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE,  IO3 

pacity  nntil    March,   1882,  when  the  pastoral  relation  was  dis- 
solved. 

In  May,  1882,  the  Rev.  M.  C.  Bailey,  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Carlisle,  supplied  the  pulpit  and  received  a  call  to  serve 
this  church,  in  connection  with  the  churches  of  Fairchance  and 
McClellandtown,  giving  the  church  the  morning  service  of  every 
alternate  Sabbath,  the  remuneration  for  these  services  being 
;^300.  Mr.  Bailey  accepted  the  call  and  assumed  the  work,  June 
22d,  and  in  October  30th,  of  the  same  year,  was  installed  by  a 
committee,  consisting  of  the  Revs.  H.  O.  Rosborough  and  A.  S. 
Milholland.  The  winter  following  this  installation  the  church 
experienced  a  delightful  work  of  grace.  December  2d,  1883,  the 
following  elders  were  ordained,  viz. :  Joseph  Thomas,  Chas.  L. 
Smith  and  Sam'l  P.  Custead,  and  Jared  Burchinal  was  installed 
at  the  same  time  with  them. 


McKEESPORT. 


BY    REV.    J.    J.    M  CARRELL. 

The  town  of  McKeesport  was  laid  out  in  1795.  The  earliest 
record  of  Presbyterian  services  therein  bears  date  of  180 1.  At 
this  time  commissioners  from  "McKeesport  and  vicinity,"  ap- 
peared before  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  and  made  application 
for  the  services  of  Rev.  Boyd  Mercer  one  half  of  his  time.  The 
Presbyterians  of  McKeesport  united  with  people  of  like  faith,  in 
Pitt  township  (since  Beulah  Church),  in  supporting  the  Gospel. 
Mr.  Mercer  continued  his  ministrations  as  "Supply,"  at  intervals, 
until  1822.     To  him   belongs  the  honor  of  laying   the    founda- 


I04  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

tions  of  organized  Presbyterianism  in  this  vicinity.  The  first 
formal  organization  at  this  place,  by  the  election  of  elders,  was  in 
1 8 19.  The  first  house  of  worship  was  erected  the  same  year. 
Until  this  time  the  congregation  worshiped  in  different  buildings, 
in  the  houses  and  on  the  "grounds"  of  the  members. 

After  the  close  of  Mr.  Mercer's  labors,  the  church  enjoyed 
only  occasional  supplies  for  about  two  years.  A  call  was  then 
extended  to  Mr.  Alexander  McCandless,  a  licentiate  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Ohio,  for  his  pastoral  services  for  one-third  of  the 
time,  the  church  of  Long  Run  calling  him  for  the  remaining 
part.  This  call  was  accepted.  Mr.  McCandless  began  his  labors 
in  the  "Fall"  of  1824,  and  was  ordained  and  installed  over  the 
united  charge,  April  20th,  1825.  The  membership  of  the  Mc- 
Keesport  branch  of  his  charge,  at  this  time,  seems  to  have  been 
about  thirty.  During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  McCandless  the 
church  seems  to  have  been  materially  strengthened,  although 
the  growth  in  the  membership  of  this  part  of  his  charge  did  not 
keep  pace  with  Long  Run.  At  the  close  of  this  pastorate,  in 
1837,  the  roll  of  communicants  numbered  only  fifty-two.  Mr. 
McCandless  was  a  man  of  marked  ability,  fine  scholarship,  strong 
convictions  and  builded  v/ell.  He  organized  the  Sabbath  School 
work  in  the  church.  He  may  be  said  to  have  been  the  pioneer 
of  the  temperance  movement  in  this  community.  He  severely 
attacked  the  prevalent  drinking  customs  and  the  destruction  of 
grain  in  the  still.  The  first  organized  temperance  society  in  the 
community  originated  in  the  Presbyterian  church  during  his  pas- 
torate in  1829. 

The  vacancy  following  Mr.  McCandless'  resignation  contin- 
ued about  three  years  and  a  half,  during  which  time  the  church 
was  ministered  to  by  Presbyterial  and  other  supplies. 

Rev.  Mr.  Buston,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  served  as  snp- 
ply  during  the  winter  of  1839  and  1840. 

In  April,  1 841,  the  congregation  called  Mr.  Wm.  Eaton,  a 
licentiate  of  this  Presbytery  for  one-third  of  his  time,  the  re- 
maining part  given  to  Round  Hill.  Soon  afterward  the  pastoral 
relation  was  consummated  and  continued  three  years,  termina- 
ting, April,  1844.     During  this  pastorate  the  first  church   build- 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 05 

ing  was  removed  and  the  second,  larger  and  more  pretentious, 
was  erected. 

The  vacancy  created  by  Mr.  Eaton's  resignation  continued 
one  year.  In  September  of  this  year  (1844)  Presbytery  held  its 
first  stated  meeting  in  this  church. 

In  April,  1845,  the  church  secured  the  services  of  Rev, 
Samuel  Hill,  of  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  as  Stated  Supply 
for  six  months.  At  the  end  of  that  time  a  majority  of  the  con- 
gregation desired  his  continuance.  A  respectable  minority  dis- 
senting. Presbytery  refused  permission  to  employ  him. 

Through  all  these  experiences  the  church  enjoyed  a  measure 
of  growth  and  prosperity.  In  1846  the  membership  had  increas- 
ed to  105. 

In  October,  1846,  Mr.  Prosper  H.  Jacob,  a  licentiate  of  the 
Presbytery  of  Beaver,  was  employed  as  Stated  Supply  for  six 
months.  At  the  close  of  this  engagement,  he  was  called  to  the 
pastorate  and  ordained  and  installed,  June  2d,  1847.  For  the 
first  time  the  congregation  enjoyed  the  whole  of  a  pastor's  ser- 
vices. This  pastorate  was  fruitful  in  good  works  and  substantial 
growth.  The  weekly  prayer  meeting  was  organized.  The  benefi- 
cence of  the  congregation  was  stimulated  and  developed.  Dur- 
ing the  four  years  of  this  ministry  the  membership  grew  from 
127  to  281.  Discipline  seems  to  have  been  faithfully  adminis- 
tered and  the  truth  ably  defended  against  open  assailants.  This 
relation  was  dissolved,  October  3d,  185 1. 

During  the  winter  of  185 1  and  1852  the  church  was  served 
by  Revs.  Nathaniel  West,  Sr.  and  Jr.  The  former  was  called  to 
the  pastorate  the  following  April.  He  entered  immediately  upon 
his  work,  but  was  not  formally  installed  until  May  2d,  1854.  Dr. 
West,  a  veritable  "Son  of  Thunder,"  came  to  the  work  well 
equipped  in  body  and  mind.  A  man  of  strong  convictions  and 
imperious  will,  he  was  often  "a  man  of  war."  He  would  toler- 
ate none  who  walked  disorderly.  His  ministry  was  marked  by 
the  discipline  of  many  offenders,  often  indicating  zeal  untempered 
by  prudence  and  love.  These  frequent  disturbances  seem  to 
have  seriously  affected  the  growth  and  spirituality  of  the  church. 
Notwithstanding  numerous  accessions,  the  membership  at  the 


I06  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

close  was  less  than  at  the  beginning  of  his  ministry.  Yet  he 
was  instrumental  in  doing  most  valuable  service.  During  his 
incumbency  the  third  and  present  (1887)  house  of  worship  was 
erected.  The  people  were  soundly  indoctrinated  in  the  faith  of 
the  Fathers.  The  Sabbath  School  was  reorganized  and  placed 
upon  a  more  substantial  basis.  One  sermon  was  substituted  for 
the  primitive  double  service  on  the  Sabbath  and  other  salutary 
changes  were  introduced.  The  fruitage  of  this  strong  but  strange 
ministry  will  not  be  known  till  the  "great  day  of  final  account." 
Dr,  West's  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved,  July,  1856, 

The  vacancy  following  the  above  dissolution  was  of  short 
duration.  Robert  F.  Wilson,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Huntingdon,  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  September  ist,  1856. 
Mr,  Wilson  was  ordained  and  installed,  November  20th,  of  the 
same  year.  The  church,  at  this  time,  with  a  membership  of  194, 
a  commodious  and  substantial  house  of  worship  in  the  midst  of 
a  prosperous  and  growing  community,  was  in  a  condition  for  do- 
ing great  good,  Mr,  Wilson  entered  upon  his  ministry  under 
favorable  circumstances.  His  pastorate  of  nearly  eleven  years 
was  marked  by  spiritual  power  and  steady  growth  in  every  de- 
partment of  the  church  work.  Three  revivals  occurred  during 
his  ministry.  Besides  these  revival  times,  there  were  constant 
accessions  as  the  months  went  by,  making  an  average  of  about 
eighteen  on  profession  of  faith  each  year  of  his  ministry,  besides 
considerable  accessions  from  other  churches.  At  the  close  of 
this  pastorate  the  membership  was  reported  at  two  hundred  and 
seventy.  During  these  years,  the  benevolent  enterprises  of 
the  church  at  home  and  abroad  were  systematically  cared  for. 
The  records  of  this  pastorate  indicate  a  laborer  conscientious  and 
faithful,  needing  not  to  be  ashamed,  and  through  the  divine  bles- 
sing, a  corresponding  prosperity  in  the  church.  Those  "troub- 
lous times"  of  the  civil  war  were  assigned  to  this  incumbency. 
Some  seventy-five  of  the  sons  of  the  church  were  in  the  army 
and  navy  of  the  Union.  The  clouds  which  hung  oftentimes  so 
heavy  over  the  country  at  large,  also  gathered  about  this  congre- 
gation of  God's  people.  Under  these  clouds  the  sun  of  this 
successful  ministry  "went  to   his  setting."     Against  the  earnest 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  IO7 

protest  of  friends,  Mr.  Wilson  placed  his  resignation  in  the  hands 
of  Presbytery,  April,  1867,  and  was  released.  May  14th  of  the 
same  year. 

The  vacancy  following  the  above  resignation  continued  more 
than  two  years.  During  these  years  supplies  were  regularly  ob- 
tained and  repeated  efforts  made  to  secure  a  pastor. 

In  March,  1868,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  S.  C.  Logan, 
then  Secretary  of  Committee  of  Missions  for  Freedmen.  The 
call  was  declined,  but  Mr.  Logan  for  a  time  served  as  regular 
supply. 

In  July,  1868,  a  call  was  made  for  the  services  of  Rev.  W.  S. 
Wright,  but  declined. 

In  October,  of  the  same  year,  a  call  was  issued  to  Rev.  W, 
H.  Gill,  with  like  results. 

Finally,  in  April,  1869,  a  call  was  made  for  the  services  of 
Rev.  G.  M.  Hair,  of  Baltimore.  This  call  was  accepted  and  the 
installation  took  place,  November  9th,  following.  Prosperity 
seemed  to  visit  the  church  once  more.  A  Domestic  Missionary 
Society  had  been  formed  among  the  ladies  during  the  preceding 
vacancy.  A  Dorcas  Society  in  the  Sabbath  School  for  clothing 
children  in  need  of  such  aid  was  added.  The  church  was,  at  an 
early  day,  free  from  debt.  The  church  building  was  lighted 
with  gas.  During  the  first  year  of  this  ministry  the  member- 
ship increased  242  to  288.  The  benevolent  causes  of  the  church 
were  systematically  aided.  The  congregation  acquired  fixed 
habits  of  worship.  The  Sabbath  School  was  more  prosperous 
than  ever.  The  outlook  seemed  bright,  indeed.  Financial  diffi- 
culties, however,  began  to  appear  in  deficiencies  in  the  current 
expense  funds.  In  the  spring  of  1871  the  congregation  resolved 
to  build  a  parsonage  and  finished  it  with  an  almost  crushing  debt 
upon  them.  The  people  became  so  disheartened  that  the  pastor 
felt  constrained  to  offer  his  resignation.  The  relation  was  dis- 
solved, August  20th.  1872,  after  a  ministry  of  less  than  three 
years. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Wightman  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  October 
I  ith,  1872,  after  a  vacancy  in  the  church  of  less  than  two  months. 
He  accepted  and  was  installed,  December  31st,  of  the  same  year. 


I08  PRESBYTERY  OF  REDSTONE. 

Mr.  Wightman  found  the  congregation  burdened  with  a  debt  of 
$8,000  and  the  church  property  sadly  in  need  of  repairs. 
Through  "great  tribulation"  this  heavy  burden  of  debt  was  lifted 
and  the  church  once  more  enjoyed  increasing  prosperity.  Large 
ingatherings  annually  proved  the  presence  of  the  Spirit  in  the 
ministrations  of  the  pastor  and  the  hearts  of  the  people.  Not- 
withstanding the  great  financial  depression,  not  a  blank  appears 
in  any  of  the  benevolent  schemes  of  the  church  at  large  during 
this  pastorate.  The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  was 
organized  and  the  whole  work  systematically  pressed  forward. 
At  the  close  of  this  pastorate,  August  25th,  1877,  the  church 
was  on  a  firm  financial  basis.  The  membership  had  increased  to 
three  hundred  and  twenty-seven,  the  Sabbath  School  to  three 
hundred  and  fifty. 

After  a  vacancy  of  less  than  a  month  Rev.  Samuel  McBride 
was  called  to  the  pastorate.  He  was  installed,  November  13th, 
1877.  This  incumbency,  of  just  two  years,  was  an  epoch  in  the 
history  of  the  church.  A  man  of  popular  address,  Mr.  Mc- 
Bride drew  large  congregations  to  hear  him  preach.  In  less  than 
two  years  more  than  one  hundred  were  admitted  to  membership 
on  confession  of  faith,  besides  a  number  on  certificate.  In  the 
spring  of  1879  the  number  of  communicants  was  reported  at 
412.  Difficulties,  however,  arose  in  the  congregation.  The  well 
established  members  became  dissatisfied  with  new  methods  intro- 
duced, and  entertained  grave  suspicions  as  to  the  character  of 
doctrine  preached.  Want  of  confidence  increased.  The  case 
reached  Presbytery.  As  a  compromise,  the  pastoral  relation  was 
dissolved,  November  13th,  1879,  Mr.  McBride  agreeing  to  leave 
the  bounds  of  the  Presbytery.  As  a  consequence  of  the  whole 
trouble,  a  large  number  of  the  communicants  withdrew  from  the 
church.  Out  of  a  membership  of  412  reported  to  the  General 
Assembly  in  1879,  o^'x  -04  were  reported  to  Assembly  of  1880. 
Thus  weakened,  discouraged,  almost  paralyzed,  the  congregation 
was  left  to  begin  again.  During  the  winter  of  '79  and  '80  the 
church  had  supplies. 

April  5th,  1880,  a  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  J.  K.  McKallip 
and  was  declined. 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  IO9 

Rev.  Geo.  N.  Johnston  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  June  21st, 
1880.  The  call  was  accepted  and  the  installation  took  place,  De- 
cember 2 1st  of  the  same  year.  This  pastorate  was  largely  one 
of  "strengthening  the  things  that  remained,"  gathering  up  the 
fragments  and  combining  the  broken  elements  of  the  congrega- 
tion. There  was  a  considerable  ingathering,  and  notwithstand- 
ing many  losses,  at  the  close  of  this  ministry,  April  20th,  1884, 
the  membership  had  increased  to  240,  the  church  was  united, 
hopeful  and  in  good  condition  for  future  usefulness. 

May  19th,  1884,  Rev.  J.  J.  McCarrell,  the  present  incum- 
bent, was  called  to  the  pastorate.  He  accepted,  took  charge,  Oc- 
tober 1st,  and  was  installed,  December  5th  of  the  same  year. 
This  relationship  has  been  blessed  of  God.  The  membership 
has  increased  to  420,  the  Sabbath  School  membership  to  470. 
The  women,  children  and  young  people  are  well  organized  for 
Christian  work  "at  home  and  abroad."  The  gifts  to  benevolence 
have  largely  increased,  as  well  as  the  support  of  the  Gospel  at 
home,  beyond  any  former  period  in  the  history  of  the  church. 
The  church  property  has  been  improved  at  an  expense  of  more 
than  $8,000,  including  a  pipe  organ.  The  congregation  is  free 
from  debt.  The  outlook  is  hopeful  and  promising.  Thus  God 
has  led  this  people  into  a  "large  place." 

The  following  is  the  roll  of  the  eldership  from  the  beginning 
of  the  organization:  Wm.  Penney,  ordained  1820;  died,  Febru- 
ary 5,  185 1.  Wm.  Sill,  ordained  1820;  died,  February  28,  1841. 
James  Evans,  ordained  1820.  Hamilton  Stewart,  ordained  1838; 
died,  April  3,  1879.  Fauntley  Muse,  ordained  1838;  dismissed 
1850.  John  Gray,  ordained  1840;  dismissed  185 1.  H.  D.  Gam- 
ble, ordained,  September  19,  1847;  died  1851.  Wm.  Lawhead, 
ordained,  September  19,  1847;  dismissed  185  i.  John  A.  Miller, 
installed,  March  6,  1848  ;  dismissed  1865.  John  McHenry,  or- 
dained 1852 ;  dismissed  1856.  Andrew  Christy,  installed,  June 
26,  1853;  died.  May  6,  1880.  John  Gardner,  ordained,  June  26, 
1853;  dismissed  1865.  John  Mcintosh,  ordained,  June  26,  1853; 
ceased  to  act,  January  29,  1854.  John  Lynch,  installed,  October 
5,  1853;  dismissed,  April,  1856.  Hugh  Rowland,  ordained,  Au- 
gust 28,  1859;  died,  April  28,   1866.     Wm.   Douglass,  ordained, 


no  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

August  28,  1859;  dismissed,  December,  1866.  Thos.  Plummer, 
installed,  February  ii,  1866;  dismissed  1875.  Wm.  J.  Millar, 
ordained,  February  11,  1866;  dismissed  1867.  Jacob  P.  Learn, 
ordained,  February  11,  1866.  Jas.  H.  Gamble,  ordained,  Febru- 
ary II,  1866;  dismissed .  Philip  Hodil,  ordained,  Febru- 
ary 16,  1886;  dismissed,  December  3,  1866.  Alex.  Millar,  or- 
dained, August  31,  1873;  died,  July  18,  1878.  Henry  Stewart, 
ordained,  August  31,  1873.  Dickson  Bailie,  ordained,  August 
31,  1873;  dismissed,  May,  i,  1880.  Walter  Foster,  ordained, 
January  25,  1880.  Jas.  H.  Williamson,  ordained,  January  25, 
1880.     Jas.  S.  Kuhn,  ordained,  January  25,  1880. 


GREENSBORO. 


BY    ELDER    A.    V.    BOUGHNER. 

The  church  of  Greensboro  is  situated  in  the  village  of  that 
name,  Greene  county.  Pa.  Little  is  known  of  its  origin  and  pro- 
gress, as  there  are  no  records  from  which  to  make  a  full  and 
satisfactory  history.  Prior  to  1822,  James  Vance,  who  had  been 
an  elder  and  had  emigrated  from  Morristown,  New  Jersey,  in 
God's  Providence  was  thrown  in  this  community,  where  he  was 
enabled  to  be  one  of  a  few  in  sowing  seed. 

In  1 8 19  the  united  congregations  of  George's  Creek  and 
Greensboro  promised  to  A.  G.  Fairchild  ;^I75  for  one-half  of  his 
time  for  the  term  of  one  year.  In  1822,  the  united  congrega- 
tions of  Morgantown,  George's  Creek  and  Greensboro,  called 
Rev.  A.  G.  Fairchild,  at  a  salary  of  ;?333.33  ;  Morgantown  to 
have  one-third  of  his  time  and  to  pay  ^133.33,   George's  Creek 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  I  I  I 

another  third  of  his  time  and  to  pay  $135,  and  Greensboro  one- 
sixth  of  his  time  and  to  pay  $65,  making  a  total  of  ;^333.33. 

It  was  in  this  year  (1822)  a  lot  was  bought  and  a  church 
commenced.  Several  of  the  German  families  connected  with,  or 
engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  glass,  who  had  removed  from  the 
Fayette  county  side  of  the  river  to  this  in  1804  to  1806,  and  who 
had  been  brought  up  in  the  Lutheran  church,  became  Presby- 
terians. In  the  erection  of  the  church  building  at  that  day,  the 
cost  was  not  so  great  as  in  after  years.  James.  W.  Nicholson, 
the  Oliphants  and  Albert  Gallatin,  some  of  whom  were  interest- 
ed in  the  manufacture  of  glass,  assisted  and,  through  the  efforts 
of  Dr.  Fairchild,  succeeded  in  getting  the  building  up.  It  would 
seem  strange  now,  yet  the  bottle  of  whiskey  was  kept  where  the 
workmen  could  get  their  dram  while  the  wall  was  going  up  and 
no  harm  thought  of  it.  The  German  families  spoken  of  had 
been  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  glass,  at  what  was  known  as 
the  "Old  Glass  Works,"  on  George's  Creek,  Fayette  county. 
Gallatin  was  a  partner. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  installation  of  Dr.  Fairchild,  Rev. 
Wm.  Wiley  preached  the  sermon  and  Rev.  Robert  Johnson  pre- 
sided and  delivered  the  charges  to  pastor  and  congregations. 
This  arrangement  lasted  till  1827.  From  this  date  the  church  of 
Greensboro  was  without  the  regular  stated  ministrations  of  the 
Gospel  for  a  considerable  period  of  time.  This  little,  weak 
church,  like  many  others,  has  gone  through  some  sad  and  varied 
experiences.  In  the  spring  of  1836  the  building  was  destroyed 
by  fire.  This  Providence  was  a  serious  drawback  on  a  congre- 
gation so  feeble  in  numbers  and  strength.  At  length,  however, 
through  the  untiring,  persevering  efforts  of  Daniel  Boughner  and 
a  few  others,  the  work  of  rebuilding  was  undertaken,  and  in 
1840,  had  so  far  progressed,  that  the  house  was  in  a  condition  to 
be  occupied.  The  congregations  of  Connellsville,  Uniontown, 
George's  Creek  and  New  Providence,  all  gave  as  they  felt  able. 

I  have  often  heard  father  (Daniel  Boughner)  say  he  should 
ever  remember  the  kind  offices  of  the  elder  Judge  Ewing  (Na- 
thaniel), in  introducing  him  to  his  friends,  as  well  as  for  his  per- 
sonal aid  in  this  trying  time  in  the  history   of  our  little   church. 


112  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

In  November,  1840,  Rev.  John  McClintock,  pastor  of  New 
Providence  and  Jefferson  congregations,  began  to  minister  at 
Greensboro  once   a  month,   in  the  evening. 

This  arrangement  lasted  till  1845,  when  Rev.  J.  B.  McKee 
became  Stated  Supply  at  Greensboro,  spending  two  Sabbaths 
each  month.  The  labors  of  Mr.  McKee  embraced  a  period  of 
about  one  year.  I  think  the  good  old  man  died  at  West  New- 
ton. As  there  were  no  ruling  elders  connected  with  the  Greens- 
boro church,  the  membership  was  enrolled  with  George's  Creek. 
By  order  of  Presbytery,  they  were  dismissed  from  George's 
Creek  in  1853  and  connected  with  New  Providence. 

On  the  retirement  of  Mr.  McKee,  Rev.  John  McClintock 
again  devoted  a  portion  of  his  time  to  Greensboro,  ministering  to 
the  people  on  alternate  Sabbaths,  mainly  in  the  evening,  at  an 
annual  salary  of  $s^  to  $y^. 

In  May,  1866,  by  an  agreement  with  New  Providence,  Mr. 
McClintock  gave  up  his  charge  at  Jefferson  and  devoted  that 
proportion  of  time  to  Greensboro,  believing  he  could  accomplish 
more  good  for  Christ's  Kingdom.  Thus  we  were  every  fourth 
Sabbath  supplied  with  a  morning  service.  For  this  additional 
service  we  were  to  pay  ^100.  In  the  winter  of  1866,  quite  a  re- 
ligious interest  was  manifested,  and  as  a  result,  thirteen  persons 
were  added  to  the  church  on  examination,  two  of  whom  subse- 
quently became  ruling  elders. 

On  the  15th  of  June,  1867,  by  order  of  Presbytery,  the 
church  of  Greensboro  was  reorganized  by  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad 
and  Rev.  John  McClintock.  The  membership  of  Greensboro 
Church  in  1840,  when  Mr.  McClintock  began  as  supply,  number- 
ed seventeen.  From  1840  up  to  1867,  the  date  of  reorganiza- 
tion, forty-five  were  received  on  examination.  In  the  above- 
named  time,  eleven  died.  In  1879,  repairs  to  the  church  building 
were  completed,  v/hich  had  been  continued  through  several  years, 
at  a  total  cost  of  over  ^2,100. 

On  the  15th  of  June,  1867,  the  church  was  organized  and 
Alexander  Vance  Boughner  and  John  Minor  Crawford  were 
chosen  elders.  They  were  ordained  by  Revs.  Messrs.  McClin- 
tock, Stoneroad  and  Rosborough.     Mr.     McClintock  continued 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  I  1 3 

to  serve  our  church  till  March,  1873,  when,  on  account  of  age 
and  growing  infirmity,  he  regarded  it  a  duty,  as  well  as  a  matter 
of  necessity,  to  relieve  himself  of  the  Greensboro  charge  and  de- 
vote his  whole  time  to  New  Providence.  Although  all  our  mem- 
bers seemed  to  realize  that  Mr.  McClintock  was  perfectly  justifia- 
ble, yer  it  was  a  sad  parting,  indeed.  At  the  close  of  the  sermon, 
he  made  the  farewell  announcement  in  a  very  feeling  manner. 
He  spoke  of  many  endearing  associations  he  had  formed  and  of 
the  necessity  of  the  separation.  The  congregation,  on  hearing 
the  sad  announcement,  seemed  to  be  entirely  overcome  and  could 
only  express  their  love  by  weeping,  some  of  them  aloud. 
Aged  members  went  forward,  embraced  and  kissed  him,  whilst 
others  gave  their  hand  and  a  God  bless  you !  It  was  a  scene  that 
will  not  be  forgotten  by  those  present  while  life  lasts.  We  can- 
not drop  that  good  man's  name  in  our  little  history.  He  organ- 
ized our  Sabbath  School  in  July,  1855,  and  it  has  been  kept  up 
to  this  time.  Yes,  it  is  hard  to  part  with  a  friend,  but  it  is  more 
trying  to  be  separated  from  a  godly  man,  under  whose  religious 
teaching  and  influence  many  of  us  had  grown  up  from  infancy. 
He  cared  for  us  "as  a  father  careth  for  his  children,"  and  made 
sacrifices  no  other  man  would  make  for  our  spiritual  good.  The 
wreath  is  woven,  the  crown  prepared  for  such  a  friend  of  Jesus. 

From  1873  to  1874,  we  depended  on  supplies. 

In  1874  we  made  a  call  for  Rev.  D.  B.  Rogers.  On  account 
of  the  Sustentation  Board  not  paying  the  amount  expected,  Mr. 
Rogers  resigned  the  charge  before  the  close  of  the  year.  We 
then  drifted  along  till  1876. 

In  the  spring  of  1876,  we  called  Rev.  H.  O.  Rosborough  for 
one-fourth  his  time,  at  an  annual  salary  of  $200.  This  arrangement 
lasted  till  the  spring,  1887.  During  Mr.  Rosborough's  labors 
with  us,  the  membership  increased  from  thirty-nine  to  eighty- 
four.  There  are  now  about  sixty-eight  communicants.  Mr.  Ros- 
borough's eleven  years'  service  with  us  has  been  successful.  He 
resigned  on  account  of  bodily  affliction.  He  has  been  a  faithful 
servant  of  Christ.  At  this  date  we  are  without  a  shepherd,  with 
no  certain  hopes  of  getting  one.  (This  congregation  now  has  a 
pastor  in  connection  with  Jefferson,  Rev.  C.  J.  Forsythe.) 


114  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 


UNIONTOWN. 


PREFACE. 

This  history  is  taken  mainly  from  a  history  carefully  pre- 
pared by  Rev.  S.  S.  Gilson  and  published  by  the  church  in  1876, 
and  brought  down  to  the  present  time,  April,  1888,  by  Hon. 
John  K.  Ewing,  a  member  of  session.  A  few  foot  notes  are  ad- 
ded by  the  pastor,  A.  S.  Milholland. 

THE    PREACHERS. 

There  was  Presbyterian  preaching  here  before  there  was  a 
church  building  or  organization. 

It  is  quite  certain  that  Uniontown  was  occupied  by  Presby- 
terian ministers  as  a  place  for  preaching  more  than  a  century  ago. 
There  were  Presbyterian  churches  in  this  county  with  the  minis- 
try of  the  word  in  1774.  This  place  was  embraced  in  the  bounds 
of  Dunlap's  Creek  Church  as  early  as  1776  and  when  ministers 
were  so  near  they  would  not  neglect  this  point.  The  earliest 
record  is  found  in  the  minutes  of  Redstone  Presbytery,  as  follows  : 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  at  George's  Creek,  October 
15th,  1799,  application  for  supplies  was  made  by  the  vacant  con- 
gregation of  Uniontown.  Rev.  James  Power  was  appointed  for 
one  Sabbath  and  Rev.  Samuel  Porter  for  another.  During  the 
following  twelve  years  application  was  made  at  irregular  intervals 
for  supplies  which  were  appointed.  No  record  can  be  found  of 
the  date  of  the  organization  of  the  church. 

About  181 2,  Rev.  James  Dunlap,  a  man  of  considerable 
ability,  an  ex-President  of  Jefferson  College,  came  and  remained 
about  two  years.  He  was  Principal  also  of  an  Academy,  which 
occupied  the  Madison  College  building.  He  preached  occasion- 
ally in  the  old  Court  House.  In  18 16  he  went  to  reside  with  his 
son,  Rev.  Wm.  Dunlap,  in  Abingdon,  near  Philadelphia,  where 
he  remained  till  his  death,  November  22d,  1818,  in  the  seventy- 
fifth  year  of  his  age. 

Up  till  1 8 17  the  preaching  was  very  irregular. 

Rev.  William  T.  Wylie,  a  native  of  Washington  county, 
came  in  1817,  on  the  invitation  of  John  Lyon,  an  eminent  law- 


Hun.    Nathaniel    Ewing. 

See  Appendix  also. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  I  1 5 

yer,  John  Kennedy,  afterward  Judge,  and  John  Miller,  a  citizen 
of  influence.  His  preaching  gave  great  satisfaction,  and  after 
two  years  of  labor  as  Stated  Supply  he  was  called  as  pastor. 

At  a  meeting  of  Redstone  Presbytery  held  at  Long  Run, 
April  2 1st,  1 8 19,  a  call  was  presented  from  this  church  and  ac- 
cepted, and  arrangements  were  made  for  his  installation  on  the 
first  Thursday  of  May,  1819.  Rev.  Messrs.  Francis  Herron, 
Robert  Johnson,  James  Guthrie  and  William  Johnson,  were  ap- 
pointed to  install  him  as  pastor. 

The  salary  offered  was  unusually  large — 5 1,000  annually,  in 
regular  quarterly  payments.  It  is  believed  to  have  been  one  of 
the  largest  paid  to  a  minister  of  the  Gospel  anywhere  in  the 
United  States  at  that  time.  Report  was  made  to  Presbytery  at 
Mt.  Pleasant  that  Mr.  VVylie  was  duly  installed.  Reverses  came 
on  the  congregation,  and  at  Long  Run,  in  1822,  "Mr.  Wylie 
presented  a  request  from  the  trustees  of  the  congregation,  stating 
that  in  consequence  of  the  embarrassment  of  the  times,  and  the 
removal  and  the  contemplated  removal  of  some  of  their  most  effi- 
cient subscribers,  the  congregation  were  unable  to  engage  to  Mr. 
Wylie  more  than  S300  a  year  for  one-half  of  his  ministerial  ser- 
vices, and  that  they  were  reluctantly  constrained  to  desire  the 
Presbytery  to  release  them  from  their  former  engagements  to  Mr. 
Wylie,  and  Mr.  Wylie  agreeing  to  the  request  it  was  granted." 
From  this  time  Mr.  Wylie  preached  occasionally  at  Wheeling. 
He  resigned  his  charge  in  October,  1823,  and  was  dismissed  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Washington. 

Mr.  Wylic's  labors  here  were  very  successful.  The  growth 
of  the  church  was  steady  till  near  the  close  of  his  pastorate. 
His  physical  appearance  was  imposing.  He  was  tall,  slender 
and  over  six  feet  high.  He  was  pleasant  in  conversation.  He 
entered  the  pulpit  with  great  solemnity  and  was  regarded  as  a 
very  popular  and  powerful  preacher.  He  was  searching  and 
faithful  in  his  style,  bold  and  pointed  in  his  denunciation  of  sin 
and  spoke  without  notes.  He  preached  in  the  old  Court  House. 
He  was  again  called  as  pastor  in  1827,  but  declined  the  call. 

From  Uniontown,  Mr.  Wylie  went  to  Wheeling,  thence  in 
1832,  to  Newark,  O.,  and  in  185410  Port  Gibson,  Miss.,  where  he 


Il6  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTOXE. 

married  his  second  wife.  He  returned  to  Wheeling  in  1855,  and 
died  there,  May  9th,  1858,  nearly  eighty-two  years  of  age.  His 
first  wife  v/as  a  daughter  of  Rev.  David  Smith,  who  preceded 
him  at  Rehoboth  and  Round  Hill,  where  he  labored  before  com- 
ing to  Uniontown.  She  was  a  sister  of  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  D. 
D.,  auther  of  "Old  Redstone,"  and  was  the  child  born  as  related 
on  page  fifty-seven  of  that  book.  She  was  a  good  woman  and 
deserves  to  be  remembered  as  the  mother  of  the  Sabbath  School 
of  this  church. 

For  five  years  the  church  was  supplied  by  Presbytery, 
During  this  interval  Rev.  Dr.  Fairchild  preached  very  frequently. 

In  December,  1827,  Mr.  John  Holmes  Agnew,  a  licentiate 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Carlisle,  was  received  under  the  care  of 
Presbytery  and  accepted  a  call  to  Uniontown.  January  26th, 
1828,  the  Presbytery  met  here  and  ordained  and  installed  him  as 
pastor.  His  salary  was  ;$400  per  annum.  He  was  the  son  of  a 
prominent  physician  of  Harrisburg  and  a  graduate  of  Dickinson 
College.  He  was  small  and  had  a  weak  voice,  but  was  a  fine 
scholar  and  writer  and  read  his  discourses.  He  was  a  good  pas- 
tor. Tovv'ard  the  close  of  his  labors  here  he  hardly  came  up  to 
the  standard  of  orthodoxy,  especially  as  he  was  thought  to  make 
salvation  depend  too  largel}^  on  the  human  will.  In  the  disrup- 
tion of  1838  he  went  with  the  New  School  branch.  Mr.  Ag- 
new resigned  in  1831,  chiefly  on  account  of  ill  health  and  at  once 
accepted  the  Chair  of  Languages  in  Washington  College  and 
was  dismissed  to  Washington  Presbytery.  Afterward  he  was  a 
Professor  for  a  short  time  in  Michigan  University;  conducted  a 
Ladies'  Seminary  at  Pittsfield,  Mass.;  became  editor  of  the  Eclec- 
tic Magazine  in  New  York;  also  taught  in  a  Female  Seminary 
near  Cincinnati,  and  died  several  years  since  at  his  home  on  the 
Hudson  river.  While  in  Uniontown  he  married  Miss  Taylor,  of 
Brooklyn.  She  was  an  estimable  lady,  earnestly  desiring  to  aid 
her  husband  in  his  work. 

Mr.  Joel  Stoneroad  preached  the  next  Sabbath  after  Mr. 
Agnew  left  and  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor,  December 
14th,  1 83 1,  on  a  salary  of  ^500.  As  a  fuller  notice  of  Mr.  S. 
will  appear  elsewhere,  it  is  only  necessary  to  say  that  this  pastor- 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE,  I  I  / 

ate  continued  for  ten  years  and  a  half,  the  longest  in  this  history. 
It  was  signally  blessed,  the  average  admissions  on  examinations 
being  twelve  persons  each  year.  Mr.  Stoneroad  resigned,  April 
1 2th,  1842,  and  went  to  the  Cross  Roads  Church,  Presbytery  of 
Washington. 

Rev.  Andrew  Ferrier,  D.  D.,  a  minister  of  the  United  Seces- 
sion Church,  Scotland,  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Glasgow, 
and  Decommended  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  York,  was  sent  as  a 
supply.  On  the  29th  of  November,  1842,  he  was  installed  as 
pastor,  on  a  salary  of  $500.  He  was  a  man  of  decided  ability 
and  preached  fine  old  orthodox  sermons.  But  his  Scotch  brogue 
made  him  hard  to  understand.  He  resigned  his  charge,  August 
6th,  1844,  and  went  to  the  Scotch  Church  in  Canada,  and  of  his 
subsequent  history  nothing  is  known. 

Next  came  Rev.  Griffith  Owen,  who  was  installed  here  on  a 
salar}'  of  $500,  June  26th,  1845.  ^^  ^^'^s  a  zealous,  whole  soul- 
ed,  off-hand  Welshman ;  a  good  pastor  and  a  very  good  preacher, 
whenever  he  applied  himself  He  was  noted  for  his  itinerancy, 
both  in  preaching  and  visiting  from  house  to  house.  He  re- 
signed, November  nth,  1847,  being  called  to  the  Third  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Baltimore.  (He  was  also  pastor  of  the 
South  P.resbyterian  Church,  Philadelphia,  and  General  Agent  of 
the  American  Sabbath  School  Union  in  the  State  of  Mar^'land. 
He  died  in  Baltimore,  Md.,  January  14th,  1870). 

Rev.  Moses  Allen  Williams  was  installed  pastor,  November 
20th,  1849.  ^^s  salary  was  $500.  He  had  labored  as  Stated 
Supply  from  February  till  this  date.  Mr.  Williams  resigned  this 
charge  in  1852.  He  was  the  son  of  a  ruling  elder,  Benjamin 
Williams,  in  Mingo  congregation,  and  was  born,  September  20th, 
1 84 1,  and  graduated  at  Jefferson  College  in  1839.  Mr.  W.  was 
a  godly  man  and  an  excellent  pastor  and  a  fair  preacher.  He 
wrote  his  sermons  in  full  and  read  closely.  After  leaving  this 
he  labored  in  Valparaiso,  Chili,  S.  A.,  till  1856,  when  he  came  back 
to  the  Pacific  coast,  which  he  has  thoroughly  explored,  enduring 
great  hardships  in  doing  it.  He  organized  a  church  in  Napa 
City  and  one  in  Jacksonville.  "In  1858,  in  the  fall,"  he  writes, 
"I  returned  to  Roger's  River  Valley,  where  I  have  been  laboring 


Il8  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

ever  since.  I  scarcely  ever  see  the  face  of  a  Presbyterian  minister. 
This  valley  is  surrounded  with  high,  grand  mountains  and  pos- 
sesses the  finest  climate  in  the  world.  I  am  sixty-five  years  of 
age  and  can  ride  all  day  almost  as  well  as  ever.  Uniontown  was 
technically  my  first  and  last  pastoral  charge." 

Rev.  James  H.  Callen  came  next  in  the  pastorate  and  was 
installed,  April  27th,  1853,  on  a  salary  of  ;$500.  He  was  an 
Irishman,  with  very  pleasant  manner.  His  sermons  were  brief, 
finished  in  bright  style  and  well  read.  As  a  pastor  he  was  ordi- 
nary. He  was  of  medium  height,  with  good  appearance  in  the 
pulpit.  He  resigned,  April  loth,  1855,  to  accept  a  call  to  a 
church  in  the  east.  When  this  history  was  prepared  he  was  an 
evangelist  in  Brooklyn  and  had  received  the  title  of  D.  D.  (His 
name  is  not  now,  1888,  on  the  roll  and  he  is  probably  dead.) 

Rev.  Wm.  F.  Hamilton  was  called,  April,  1856,  having 
preached  from  October  previous,  and  installed  as  pastor,  May 
13th,  1856.  His  is  the  second  longest  pastorate  of  this  history. 
Mr.  Hamilton  was  born  in  Monongahela  City,  Pa.,  March  24th, 
1824;  graduated  at  Washington  College,  1844,  at  the  age  of 
twenty;  the  Western  Theological  Seminary,  1849;  licensed  by 
the  Presbytery  of  Ohio  (now  Pittsburgh)  in  '49,  and  ordained  and 
installed  by  the  same  Presbytery  as  pastor  of  Center  Church, 
near  Canonsburg,  Pa.,  in  1850. 

Mr.  Plamilton  is  a  man  of  far  more  than  average  talent  and 
ability.  He  is  a  fine  writer,  with  a  keen,  pointed  and  discrim- 
inating style.  He  resigned  his  charge  here,  May  31st,  1866,  af- 
ter a  pastorate  of  ten  years.  In  1868,  September  7th,  he  took 
charge  of  the  churches  of  Salem  and  Livermore,  in  Blairsville 
Presbytery,  where  he  labored  with  great  acceptance  for  seven 
years.  After  resigning  this  charge  he  removed  to  Blairsville, 
where  he  lived  a  short  time  and  then  went  to  Washington,  Pa., 
where  he  still  resides  and  is  Stated  Supply  of  Mt.  Pleasant 
Church.  He  was  Professor  for  a  time  of  Intellectual  Philosophy 
and  Ethics  in  Washington  and  Jefferson  College.  This  College 
bestowed  upon  him  the  title  of  D.  D.  Dr.  Hamilton's  salary 
was  ;^6oo  at  first  and   was  after  raised  to  ^800.     (He  was  com- 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 19 

pelled  on  account  of  ill  health  to  give  up  preaching  a  year  ago. 
He  is  a  Trustee  of  Washington  and  Jefferson  College.) 

Rev.  Walter  W.  Ralston  was  installed  pastor  of  this  church, 
April  28th,  1867,  on  a  salary  of  $1,200  and  a  house  rent  free. 
He  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  a  graduate  of  Jefferson  College  and 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary.  He  is  a  good  preacher,  with 
an  excellent  voice.  He  usually  read  his  discourses.  He  was  a 
fair  pastor.  October  ist,  1873,  he  resigned  this  charge  to  accept 
a  call  to  Xenia,  Ohio.  In  1875  he  resigned  his  charge  in  Xenia 
and  labored  for  a  time  as  agent  for  Washington  and  Jefferson 
College  and  then  settled  in  Bridgewater,  Pa.,  in  1876,  where  he 
now  labors.  (Afterward  Dr.  Ralston  was  pastor  at  Dennison, 
Ohio,  and  is  now  pastor  of  Beulah  Church,  Presbytery  of  Blairs- 
ville.) 

This  closes  the  succession  to  the  present  pastorate.  There 
have  been  ten  ministers.  Five  were  here  less  than  three  years, 
and  the  average  length  of  their  pastorate  was  about  six  years. 

The  present  pastor,  Rev.  Samuel  S.  Gilson,  was  born  in 
Westmoreland  county,  October  28th,  1843,  graduated  at  Wash- 
ington and  Jefferson  College  in  1866,  at  the  Western  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  in  1869  and  took  a  fourth  year  at  Union  Theological 
Seminary,  New  York.  He  preached  two  summers  at  Garrison's, 
on  the  Hudson.  He  was  called  to  Bowling  Green,  Ky.,  April 
1st,  1871  ;  in  just  three  years  he  was  called  to  Uniontown,  and 
was  installed  pastor.  May  ist,  1874.  Rev.  J.  P.  Fulton  presided 
and  preached  the  sermon,  Rev.  John  M.  Barnett  gave  the  charge 
to  the  pastor  and  Rev.  George  Hill,  D.  D.,  to  the  people. 

(Mr.  Gilson  resigned  in  1879  and  labored  from  '80  to  '83  in 
Dennison,  O.,  when  he  was  called  to  a  place  on  the  editorial 
staff  of  the  "Herald  and  Presbyter,"  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  where  he 
still  continues. 

THE    ELDERS. 

(Want  of  space  compels  the  omission  of  much  of  the  ex- 
cellent history  of  the  members  of  Session  and  its  acts,  prepared 
by  Mr.  Gilson.) 

In  the  old  Session  Book  of  this  Church,  the  first  record 
made  in  1825,  is  signed  by  Joseph  Kibler,  Thomas  Lewis  and  S. 


I20  PRESBYTERY   OF    REDSTONE. 

Y.  Campbell.  These  were  the  first  elders  of  this  church.  Be- 
fore this,  at  communion  seasons,  assistance  was  rendered  by  el- 
ders from  neighboring"  churches. 

Joseph  Kibler  is  spoken  of  as  a  godly  and  active  man,  faith- 
ful and  punctual  in  all  his  duties  as  a  man  and  an  officer.  He 
moved,  October  8th,  1832,  to  Hillsboro,  Ohio,  where  he  was  a 
Ruling  Elder  till  his  death. 

Thomas  Lewis  was  faithful  in  all  the  duties  of  a  Christian 
and  officer  and  was  clerk  of  Session  from  the  beginning  of  the 
records  till  March  27th,  1832.  His  membership  was  transferred 
to  the  Tent  Church  in  1841,  within  the  bounds  of  which  he  died, 
December  21st,  1849,  aged  sixty-one  years. 

S.  Y.  Campbell  appears  to  have  acted  as  elder  about  two 
years ;  until  1827. 

In  1829,  September  28th,  John  Kennedy  Duncan  and  Dr. 
Hugh  Campbell  were  ordained  to  the  sacred  office.  Mr.  Dun- 
can was  born  and  raised  in  Carlisle,  admitted  to  this  church  upon 
certificate,  and  at  once  elected  elder  and  served  faithfully  for  one 
year  and  was  dismissed  in  1830  to  the  Tent  Church.  Thence  he 
removed  to  Springhill ;  thence  to  low^a  City  and  thence  to  Du- 
buque, where  he  died  in  1869. 

Dr.  Hugh  Campbell  was  born  in  Uniontown,  Pa.,  May  ist, 
1795,  and  died  there,  February  27th,  1876.  His  father  was  Ben- 
jamin Campbell,  who  was  born  at  New  London  Cross-roads, 
Chester  county.  Pa.,  and  his  mother  was  Mary  Adair,  of  Cooks- 
town,  Ireland,  and  afterwards  of  London,  Franklin  county,  Pa. 
His  father  was  a  silversmith,  who  removed  from  Hagers- 
town,  Md.,  to  Uniontown,  about  1778,  where  he  died,  September 
24th,  1843.  He  was  a  man  of  modest  means,  with  twelve  child- 
ren, to  whom  he  could  of  course  give  but  small  advantages  of 
education.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Uniontown  from  its  organization.  Dr.  Hugh  Campbell  obtained 
what  education  he  could  at  his  home  and  attended  Jefferson  Col- 
lege one  year,  1812— 13.  He  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Daniel 
Marchand,  of  Uniontown,  and  attended  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania, at  Philadelphia,  where  he  graduated  and  in  1817  opened 
his    office    as    a    physician    and    surgeon    in    Uniontown.       In 


Hugh    Camprell,   Wl.   D. 

See  Appendix  also. 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  121 

September,  1823,  he  married  Miss  Susan  Baird,  of  Washington, 
Penn'a,  a  sister  of  Judge  Thomas  Baird.  She  died  in  1824. 
April  15th,  1828,  Dr.  Campbell  was  married  in  Chambersburg, 
Pa.,  to  Miss  Rachel  Broome  Lyon,  a  daughter  of  Samuel  Lyon, 
Esq.,  of  Carlisle,  Pa.  By  this  marriage  there  were  eight  children, 
six  of  whom  are  (1888)  still  living.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
joined  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Uniontown,  October  9th,  1825, 
at  the  same  time  with  Nathaniel  Ewing,  his  life-long  friend  and 
fellow  laborer  in  the  church.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  an 
elder  in  this  church,  September  28th,  1829,  and  served  as  an  ac- 
tive member  of  Session  till  his  removal  to  Allegheny,  Penn'a, 
in  1865,  to  enter  on  his  duties  as  Warden  of  the  Western 
Penitentiary.  While  there  he  was  an  elder  in  Dr.  Swift's 
Church.  He  returned  to  Uniontown  to  reside  in  1868.  He  was 
a  Commissioner  to  the  General  Assemblies  of  1833,  1834,  1835, 
1836,  1838,  1847,  1858  and  others.  He  also  represented  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  this  country  in  the  Scotch  Assembly  at 
Edinburgh  in  1869.  Dr.  Campbell  was  a  man  of  eminent  ability 
and  exercised  great  influence  for  good.  He  was  a  close  student 
of  the  Bible  all  his  life.  Amongst  his  last  words  were,  "I  feel  it 
is  by  the  grace  of  God,  I  am  what  I  am." 

Hugh  Espey  was  elected  an  elder,  December  25th,  1831. 
He  was  clerk  of  Session  from  March,  1832,  till  185  i.  He  was 
born  in  the  bounds  of  Tyrone  Church,  where  he  made  a  profes- 
sion of  religion  at  an  early  age.  About  18 12,  he  removed  to 
Rising  Sun,  Ind.,  and  was  made  a  Ruling  Elder  at  the  organiza- 
tion of  the  church  there,  in  18 16.  On  account  of  poor  health 
he  returned  to  Pennsylvania,  in  1822,  and  died  at  his  home  here, 
trusting  in  Jesus,  in  1852.     He  was  a  most  excellent  man. 

Hon.  Nathaniel  Ewing  was  born  in  Fayette  county.  Pa.,  July 
1 8th,  1794.  He  was  the  son  of  William  tawing,  who  came  into 
Fayette  county  as  a  surveyor  in  1790  and  settled  in  the  Dunlap's 
Creek  neighborhood,  and  married  Mary,  daughter  of  Jehu  Con- 
well.  He  graduated  at  Washington  College  under  Dr.  Matthew 
Brown,  in  1812,  with  the  highest  honors  of  his  class.  He  taught 
a  year  in  Newark,  Delaware,  then  studied  law  with  Hon.  Thomas 
McGiffin,  of  Washington,  Pa.,  and  was  admitted  to  the  Washing- 


122  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

ton  bar  in  June,  1816.  The  next  year  he  removed  to  Uniontown, 
where  he  resided  till  his  death,  February  8th,  1874,  in  the  eighti- 
eth year  of  his  age  and  the  forty-first  of  his  eldership.  He  uni- 
ted with  the  church,  October  9th,  1825,  and  February  3d,  1833, 
he  was  ordained  as  Ruling  Elder.  In  1822  he  married  Jane,  the 
second  daughter  of  the  late  Judge  Kennedy,  a  most  estimable 
lady,  who  died  in  1825.  She  was  the  mother  of  John  Kennedy 
Ewing,  a  member  of  the  present  Session.  In  1830  he  married 
Ann  Lyon,  daughter  of  the  late  Rev.  David  Denny,  of  Cham- 
bersburg.  In  1838  Mr.  Ewing  was  appointed  by  Governor  Rit- 
ner.  President  Judge  of  the  Fourteenth  Judicial  district  to  fill  a 
vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  Judge  Baird.  He  served 
the  constitutional  term  of  ten  years  and  left  the  Bench  with  in- 
creased confidence  on  the  part  of  the  people  in  his  integrity  and 
legal  qualifications  and  without  a  stain  on  his  judicial  ermine. 
One  of  the  Judges  of  the  Supreme  Court,  himself  a  great  law- 
yer, said  he  was  the  best  Common  Pleas  Judge  in  the  State.  Af- 
ter leaving  the  Bench,  he  did  not  return  to  the  practice  of  law, 
except  in  occasional  cases  in  behalf  of  old  friends.  He  was  a 
fine  ecclesiastical  lawyer  and  had  great  influence  in  the  General 
Assembly,  of  which  he  was  a  member  in  1836,  1837,  1839  and 
1850,  as  Commissioner  from  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone.  Judge 
Ewing  was  the  most  eminent,  useful  and  influential  citizen  of 
Fayette  county  in  his  day  and  he  also  exercised  his  activity,  in- 
fluence and  talents  in  the  cause  of  Christ.  To  the  very  close  of 
his  life  there  was  no  apparent  weakening  of  his  powerful  intel- 
lect. As  in  life,  so  in  death,  he  leaned  on  God  as  the  strength  of 
his  life  and  his  eternal  portion,  and  on  a  Sabbath  morning  quietly 
breathed  his  last  on  earth  and  began  his  eternal  Sabbath  in 
Heaven. 

William  Redick  and  Charles  Brown  were  ordained  elders, 
February  3d,  1833,  by  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad.  Mr.  Redick  served 
as  elder  till  1856,  when  he  removed  to  the  State  of  Illinois,  where 
he  now  lives.  He  was  born  in  Venango  county  in  1799.  He 
was  a  good  man  and  served  with  acceptance  to  the  people. 

Mr.  Brown  ceased  to  act  at  his  own  request.  He  left 
Fayette  county  in  1848  and  now  resides  in  Western  Virginia. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  1 23 

David  Veech  was  elected  an  elder  in  this  church,  January 
13th,  1845.  He  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  June  6th,  1781,  of 
Scotch-Irish  parentage.  He  removed  to  Greene  county  in  18 12, 
and  was  ordained  elder  in  the  New  Providence  Church.  In  1832 
he  settled  in  the  bounds  of  Dunlap's  Creek  Church  and  served  as 
an  elder  there  till  he  came  to  Uniontown  in  1839.  ^^  served 
with  great  acceptance  here  till  laid  aside  from  active  service  in  '61. 
His  death  occurred,  February  14th,  1866.  He  was  a  good  man 
and  the  memory  of  his  influence  and  works  is  still  fragrant 
among  us.  He  was  the  father  of  James  Veech,  Esq.,  long  a  res- 
ident of  this  community. 

SIMON    B.    MERCER    AND    BENJAMIN    CAMPBELL. 

On  the  15th  of  April,  1866,  Mr.  Mercer  was  installed  and 
Mr.  Campbell  ordained  and  installed  as  elders  in  this  church. 
Mr.  Mercer  was  formerly  an  elder  in  the  church  of  Bridgewater, 
Pa.  He  served  here  but  one  year  when  he  removed  to  Salts- 
burg,  Pa.,  where  he  was  installed  as  elder. 

Mr.  Campbell  was  clerk  of  Session  from  June,  1866,  till 
June,  1873.  He  ceased  to  act  from  1873.  He  was  the  son  of 
Dr.  Hugh  Campbell  and  still  resides  amongst  us. 

Jasper  Markle  Thompson,  John  Kennedy  Ewing,  Alexander 
Wilkinson  Boyd  and  William  McCleary,  constitute  the  present 
(1876)  Session.  Messrs.  Thompson  and  Ewing  were  ordained 
and  installed,  March  4th,  i860. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  born  in  Kentucky,  August  30th,  1822, 
and  came  to  Uniontown  from  Westmoreland  county,  of  this 
State,  in  1848,  and  confessed  Christ  here.  He  was  a  member  of 
the  Legislature  in  1873. 

Mr.  Ewing  was  born,  December  15th,  1823  and  has  resided 
here  all  his  life.  He  was  Commissioner  to  the  General  Assembly 
that  met  in  Pittsburgh  in  1865.  (Judge  Ewing  was  also  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Assembly  that  met  in  Omaha,  Neb.,  in  1887.  He  was 
Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the  Board  of  Aid  for  Colleges 
and  Academies.  He  also  introduced  a  series  of  resolutions 
recommending  important  changes  in  "The  Church  at  Home  and 
Abroad,"  which  was  adopted.) 


124  PRESBYTERY   OF    REDSTONE. 

Mr.  Boyd,  born  April  ist,  1831,  came  by  letter  from  the 
United  Presbyterian  Church  and  was  ordained  to  the  office  of 
elder  here,  April  15th,  1866.     He  was  a  delegate  to  the  General 

Assembly  of  1874. 

Mr.  McCleary,  born  October  loth,  181 3,  came  from  the  M. 
E.  Church,  by  letter,  to  the  Old  Frame  Church  in  this  county, 
and  was  ordained  as  an  elder  by  Rev.  H.  O.  Rosborough,  the 
pastor,  May  ist,  1864.  He  became  a  member  of  Session  here, 
October  loth,  1868. 

DEACONS. 

In  December,  1867,  William  H.  Bailey.  William  H.  Miller, 
Richard  Miller  and  Daniel  F.  Cooper,  were  elected,  ordained  and 
installed  as  Deacons  and  the  care  of  the  church  property  passed 
from  the  care  of  Trustees  into  their  hands.  W.  H.  Bailey  was 
made  treasurer. 

THE  CHURCH. 

Before  1825  the  membership  is  unknown.  Dr.  Fairchild 
held  the  first  election  for  elders,  of  which  there  is  any  record  and 
formally  organized  the  church,  February  24th,  1825.  The  mem- 
bership then  was  fifty-three,  of  whom  forty-two  were  women. 
In  1826  it  was  sixty  and  at  the  close  of  Mr.  Stoneroad's  pastor- 
ate, in  1842,  157.  The  largest  addition  made  to  the  roll  at  any 
time,  was  during  the  first  year  of  Mr.  Stoneroad's  labors,  when 
forty-eight  were  added.  During  the  last  year  of  Mr.  Hamilton's 
labors,  twenty-nine  were  received  and,  during  the  first  two  years 
of  Mr.  Gilson's  pastorate,  seventy.  In  1876  the  roll  showed  193 
in  communion.  The  six  oldest  members  are  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Lew- 
is, received  by  confession  and  baptism,  June  26th,  1825  ;  Mrs. 
Rachel  Campbell,  widow  of  Dr.  H.  Campbell,  received  by  letter, 
October  21st,  1830;  Mrs.  Ann  L.  Evving,  widow  of  Hon.  Na- 
thaniel Ewing,  received  by  letter,  November  13th,  1830;  Mrs. 
Eliza  Willson,  by  letter,  October  6th,  1833  ;  Mrs.  Catharine  Di- 
cus,  on  examination,  October  6th,  1833;  Miss  Agnes  Dutton,  on 
examination,  August  12th,  1836  (the  last  three  are  still  in  the 
membership  of  this  church,  September,  1888.) 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  125 

CONTRIBUTIONS. 

The  first  record  of  a  contribution  occurs  in  1829,  when 
;$3.oo  were  given  to  the  Commissioners'  fund.  At  first  the  con- 
tributions were  irregular  and  full  statistics  were  not  kept  until 
about  twenty-five  years  ago.  The  benevolence  of  the  church, 
like  its  membership,  though  varying  much  in  different  years,  has 
in  the  main  steadily  grown.  During  the  years  covered  by  statis- 
tics, this  church  has  given  in  all  over  ^50,000,  besides  much  of 
which  there  is  no  record. 

PRAYER  MEETINGS. 

The  weekly  prayer  meeting  has  been  in  existence  from  a 
very  early  period.  Its  experience  has  been  the  usual  one,  some- 
times flourishing  and  sometimes  languishing. 

Judge  Ewing  and  Dr.  Campbell  were  constant  and  efficient 
helpers.  The  prayer  meeting  has  always  been  well  attended  by 
the  women  of  the  church  and  there  have  been  occasions  when 
there  was  not  a  man  present.  For  fifty  years,  at  least,  a  monthly 
concert  of  prayer  for  missions  has  been  kept  up  with  more  or 
less  regularity  and  with  varying  interest. 

THE   SABBATH    SCHOOL. 

The  germ  of  this  Sabbath  School — the  first  in  Uniontown — 
was  a  class  taught  by  Mrs.  Wylie,  in  her  own  home.  A  school 
was  formally  organized  about  1820,  and  Rev.  Wm.  Wylie  su- 
perintended it  till  his  removal  to  Wheeling.  Miss  "Betsey" 
Hadden  sometimes  conducted  it  for  long  periods  entirely  alone. 
After  her  death,  the  successive  superintendents  were  Nathaniel 
Ewing,  Joseph  Kibler,  E.  P.  Oliphant,  Dr.  H.  Campbell,  W.  H. 
Bailey  and  A.  W.  Boyd. 

In  1848  Dr.  Campbell  was  elected  superintendent  and  held 
the  office  till  1865,  the  longest  service  ever  given  in  this  Sabbath 
School  by  one  man.  Up  to  1848  the  average  attendance  annu- 
ally was  about  eighty.  During  Dr.  Campbell's  superintendency 
the  contributions  to  the  cause  of  missions  were  about  5i2i. 

CHURCH  EDIFICES. 

The  first  services  were  held  in  the  old  Court  House,  which 
stood  on  the  site  of  the  present  one.     About  the  year  1824,  a 


126  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

church  edifice  was  begun,  which  after  various  difficulties  was 
completed  and  dedicated  in  January,  1827.  It  was  on  the  pub- 
lic ground,  a  little  south  of  the  site  of  the  present  Town  Hall, 
with  the  gable  fronting  Morgantown  street  and  stood  a  little  back 
from  the  street.  It  cost  about  ^3,000.  It  was  a  plain,  one-story 
brick,  about  30x50.  Objection  being  made  to  occupying  the  public 
grounds,  the  present  location  was  purchased  in  1836  and  a  second 
building  erected.  Elder  Wm.  Redick  was  the  architect,  con- 
tractor and  builder  of  this  new  edifice.  It  was  of  brick,  two- 
story,  with  high  windows  answering  for  both  stories,  with  vesti- 
bule, steeple  and  bell,  and  large  columns  in  front.  The  lecture 
room  was  occupied  in  the  fall  of  1837  ^"*^  ^^e  audience  room  the 
next  spring.  It  cost  about  ^5,500.  The  building  was  not  very 
satisfactory  and  a  fire  in  April,  1857,  which  damaged  the  interior, 
gave  a  reason  for  building  the  present  edifice.  This  is  of  brick, 
two  stories,  47x75  feet  in  size,  semi-gothic  in  style.  The  win- 
dows are  of  stained  glass.  It  was  dedicated  to  God,  April  loth, 
i860,  and  cost,  exclusive  of  the  lot,  about  $10,000. 

The  memorial  fund  raised  by  the  congregation  was  appro- 
priated to  the  building  of  a  parsonage.  This  work  was  begun  in 
September,  1875,  and  completed  in  1876,  and  stands  as  a 
monument  of  the  Centennial  year.  It  was  a  handsome  and 
convenient  brick  house  on  Gallatin  avenue  and  cost  $4,200. 
(This  building  was  sold  in  1879,  as  it  was  thought  to  be  too  far 
out  of  town.) 

Only  two  men  have  entered  the  Gospel  ministry  from  this 
congregation,  Wm.  Campbell  and  Samuel  Campbell,  sons  of  Dr. 
Hugh  Campbell. 

The  preceding  pages  bring  our  history  to  the  close  ot  No- 
vember, 1876.  In  December  following,  the  congregation  at  a 
meeting,  properly  called,  declined  to  adopt  the  Rotary  System  of 
Eldership.  A.  W.  Boyd,  a  Ruling  Elder,  having  removed,  was 
dismissed,  April,  1877. 

Charles  L.  Smith,  Isaiah  W.  Miller,  Morgan  H.  Bowman, 
Josiah  V.  Thompson  and  Samuel  E.  Ewing,  were  elected  Dea- 
cons, June  1st,  1878,  and  all,  except  J.  V.  Thompson,  who  de- 
clined, were  ordained  and  installed,  June  i6th,  1878.     Of  the  pre- 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  12/ 

vioiis  members  of  the  Board,  W.  H.  Bailey  removed  to  Minne- 
apolis, Minn.,  early  in  1879;  Richard  Miller,  died,  July  7th,  1880, 
and  Daniel  F.  Cooper  removed  to  Port  Perry,  Pa.,  March,  1888, 
M.  H.  Bowman  was  made  treasurer. 

Rev.  S.  S.  Gilson  resigned  the  pastorate  and  the  congrega- 
tion acquiescing,  the  relation  was  dissolved,  June,   1879. 

A  call  was  made,  April  17th,  1880,  for  Rev.  A.  S.  Milholland 
and  accepted  and  he  was  installed  as  pastor,  June,  1880. 

James  A.  Phillips,  John  A.  C.  Boyd  and  Nathaniel  Ewing 
were  elected  elders,  April  21st,  1883,  and  ordained  and  installed, 
May  6th,  following.  C.  L.  Smith,  deacon,  was  dismissed,  Ma}-, 
1883.  and  J.  A.  Phillips,  elder,  January,  1888. 

The  degree  of  D.  D.  was  conferred  on  Rev.  A.  S.  Milhol- 
land, by  the  University  of  Wooster,  O.,  June  24th,  1885. 

During  the  latter  year,  the  congregation  erected  a  handsome 
brick  parsonage. 

Mr.  H.  S.  Clark  is  Superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  School 
and  it  has  increased  from  100,  as  reported,  April  ist  1877,  to  263. 
There  were  added  to  the  church  last  year  on  examination,  twen- 
ty-four, of  whom  eleven  were  baptized,  and  by  letter,  sixteen. 
The  number  of  communicants  has  increased  from  193,  April  ist, 
1877  to  310,  April  ist,  1 1 


BROWNSVILLE. 


BY    REV.    B.    M.    KERR. 

The  exact  date  of  the  organization  of  this  church  is  un- 
known. Probably  the  congregation  never  was  formally  organ- 
ized, as  all  new  congregations  now  are,  and  it  may  not  have  had 
any  Ruling  Elders  for  years.     In  the  minutes  of  the  Presbytery  of 


128  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

Redstone  under  date  of  October  15th,  181 1,  is  the  earliest  men- 
tion which  has  been  found  of  Presbyterian  worship  at  Browns- 
ville. At  that  time  the  Rev.  Boyd  Mercer — for  whom  the  com- 
piler of  this  was  named — applied  for  permission  to  continue 
preaching  to  the  people  of  Brownsville  and  Uniontown.  The 
Presbytery  of  Redstone  declined  to  sanction  the  existing  engage- 
ments because  not  made  agreeably  to  the  required  regulations, 
Mr.  Mercer  being  a  member  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio. 

On  the  20th  of  April,  181 3,  Mr.  Wm.  Johnston,  a  li- 
centiate, under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Ohio,  applied  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Redstone  for  admission.  He  was  received  on  the 
2 1  St  and  on  the  same  day  a  call  from  the  congregations  of  Browns- 
ville and  Dunlap's  Creek  for  his  ministerial  services  was  laid  be- 
fore the  Presbytery.  On  the  20th  of  October,  181 3,  he  was  or- 
dained and  installed  pastor  over  the  united  congregations.  His 
pastorate  continued  at  Dunlap's  Creek  till  December  3d,  1839, 
and  at  Brownsville,  in  connection  with  Little  Redstone,  until  his 
death,  which  occurred,  December  31st,  1841. 

Mr.  Thomas  Martin  was  his  successor  over  these  now 
united  congregations.  He  began  his  stated  labors,  April  ist, 
1842  and  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor,  Januaiy  4th,  1843. 
He  continued  in  this  relation  just  nine  years  and  was  greatly  be- 
loved. Feeble  health  required  rest  and  a  change  of  climate. 
The  date  of  his  decease  is  unknown  to  the  writer. 

Mr.  Robert  M.  Wallace  commenced  his  labors  over 
the  united  congregations,  January  28th,  1853,  and  was  ordained 
and  installed,  June  15th,  1853.  This  relation  continued  until 
February  17th,  1864.  At  the  same  time  Mr.  Wallace  was  dis- 
missed to  the  Presbytery  of  Huntingdon,  in  order  to  his  accept- 
ance of  a  call  to  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Altoona,  Pa. 

Mr.  Joseph  H.  Stevenson  followed,  May  4th,  1864,  and 
was  ordained  and  installed,  October  14th,  1864.  On  the  24th  of 
April,  1866,  Mr.  Stevenson  presented  to  the  Presbytery  a  request 
from  the  two  churches  to  be  recognized  as  separate  and  distinct 
organizations.  The  Presbytery  acceded  to  the  request,  and  con- 
stituted the  elders  residing  in  the  bounds  of  Brownsville,  togeth- 
er with    the    pastor,  as  the  Session  of  the  Brownsville  Church. 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  I  29 

After  a  pastorate  of  nearly  four  years,  Mr.  Stevenson  resigned  in 
April,  1868.  He  was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  E.  P.  Lewis,  who 
served  the  church  acceptably  for  some  three  or  four  years. 

The  Rev.  W.  W.  McLane  was  called  to  this  church,  Decem- 
ber 19th,  1873,  and  was  installed  pastor.  May  13th,  1874.  This 
relation  continued  until  April,  1878,  when,  at  the  request  of  the 
pastor,  it  was  dissolved  by  the  Presbytery  and  Mr.  McLane  was 
dismissed  to  the  Presbytery  of  Steubenville. 

Rev.  A.  S,  Milholland  was  called  to  the  pastorate,  Septem- 
ber 1 8th,  1878.  He  served  the  church  as  pastor-elect  for  about 
eighteen  months.  Declining  the  call  he  returned  it  to  the  Pres- 
bytery, April,  1880. 

Rev.  A.  B.  Fields  served  the  church  as  Stated  Supply  for 
some  two  or  three  years,  after  whom,  the  Rev.  W.  G.  Nevin  was 
called  to  the  pastorate.  In  this  capacity  he  served  the  church 
nearly  two  years.     Resigning,  he  was  released  in  the  fall  of  1884. 

Rev.  A.  S.  Hunter  served  the  church  as  Stated  Supply  for 
one  year,  from  January,  1886,  to  January,  1887. 

In  February,  1887,  the  Rev.  B.  M.  Kerr  was  invited  to  sup- 
ply the  church  for  one  year  and  on  the  first  of  March  following, 
he  and  his  family  took  possession  of  the  new  and  commodious 
parsonage  which  had  just  been  finished.  On  the  evening  of 
May  2d,  1888,  Mr.  Kerr  was  installed  as  pastor. 

Until  after  1875  the  Presbyterians  of  Brownsville  had  no 
regular  house  of  worship. 

On  the  14th  of  June,  181 5,  Joseph  Thornton,  John  Steele, 
and  John  Johnston,  trustees  of  the  congregation  of  Brownsville, 
purchased  for  ;^200,  and  five  shillings  annual  ground-rent,  lot  No. 
3  on  Second  street,  having  a  front  of  sixty  feet  and  extending  180 
feet  to  Market  street.  It  was  conveyed  to  them  "in  trust  for  the 
use  of  the  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Brownsville  for  the  pur- 
pose of  erecting  a  meeting-house  thereon,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
congregation  aforesaid."  Soon  afterwards  there  was  built  on  the 
Second  street  front  a  brick  edifice,  which  was  used  as  a  house 
of  worship  until  the  present  church  was  completed  on  the  same 
lot  but  frontingf  on  Market  street. 


130  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

Of  the  elders,  William  Parkhill  was  the  only  one  living  with- 
in the  bounds  of  the  Brownsville  Church,  at  the  time  of  its  sep- 
aration from  Little  Redstone  Church,  in  April,  1866.  On  the 
22d  of  August,  1873,  A.  J.  Isler  and  Josiah  Reed  were  elected 
Ruling  Elders,  and  on  the  13th  of  September,  1876,  J.  R.  Pat- 
terson was  elected  to  the  same  office.  On  account  of  resigna- 
tions and  removals,  Mr.  Wm.  Parkhill  is,  and  for  some  time  has 
been,  the  only  Ruling  Elder. 

The  church  now  (January  30th,  1888),  numbers  134  mem- 
bers. A  Sabbath  School  connected  with  the  church  has  an  at- 
tendance of  about  100,  including  teachers,  and  is  under  the  effi- 
cient superintendency  of  Mr.  William  Parkhill.  The  church 
contributes  quite  liberally  to  all  the  Boards  as  recommended  by 
our  General  Assembly. 


CONNELLSVILLE. 


BY    REV.    W.    A.     EDIE. 

Within  a  few  years  after  its  incorporation  as  a  borough  in 
1 806,  Connellsville  became  the  home  of  several  Presbyterian  fam- 
ilies. Religious  services  were  held  at  frequent  intervals,  con- 
ducted, in  part,  by  the  Rev.  James  Guthrie,  pastor  of  the  Ty- 
rone Church  and,  in  part,  by  the  Rev.  William  Wylie,  pastor  at 
Uniontown.  These  families  were  connected,  however,  with  the 
Tyrone  Church  until  the  year  1831,  when,  on  the  4th  day  of  Oc- 
tober, the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  in  accordance  with  their  own 
request,  organized  them  as  a  cchurch.  Twenty-two  names 
were  enrolled,  viz. :  Mr.  Alexander  Johnston,  Mrs.  Alexander 
Johnston,   Miss  Nancy  C.  Johnston  (now  Mrs.  Blackstone),  Mr. 


■^^  Samua  Sari^'^'^ 


^OC-tZf 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  I3I 

Wm.  Lytle,  Mrs.  Mary  Lytle,  Mr.  Isaac  Taylor,  Mrs.  Rachel 
Taylor,  Sarah  Turner,  Dr.  Joseph  Rodgers,  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Rod- 
gers,  Elizabeth  Carson,  Nancy  Norton,  Louisa  Norton,  Mar- 
garet Francis,  Harriet  Fuller,  Margaret  Lytle,  Caroline  Trevor, 
Mary  Barnett,  Samuel  Finley,  Mary  Finley,  Samuel  McCormick 
and  Elizabeth  McCormick.  Of  these  twenty-two  persons,  nine- 
teen had  belonged  to  the  Tyrone  Church.  Mr.  Alexander  John- 
ston, already  an  Elder  in  the  Tyrone  Church,  served  as  the  first 
and,  for  several  months,  as  the  only  elder  in  the  Connellsville 
Church.  An  Irishman  by  birth,  a  Presbyterian  by  conviction,  a 
man  of  great  force  of  character  and  of  great  perseverance  in 
Christian  work,  to  him  the  church  is  largely  indebted  for  its  suc- 
cess in  the  early  years  of  its  history.  After  a  busy  life  of  more 
than  four  score  years,  he  died  on  the  3d  day  of  September,  1864. 
Mr.  Johnston's  official  responsibilities  were  lightened  when,  on 
October  28th,  1832,  Messrs.  William  Lytle,  Isaac  Taylor  and  Jo- 
seph Paull  were  added  to  the  eldership  of  the  church.  Of  these 
persons,  William  Lytle  died,  December  7th,  1 845  ;  Isaac  Taylor, 
August  29th,  1869;  and  Joseph  Paull,  February  14th,  18S0.  On 
the  7th  of  March,  1844,  Robert  Torrence,  Noble  C.  McCormick 
and  Wm.  Cunningham,  all  now  dead,  were  made  elders.  On 
January  7th,  1850,  Wm.  McCrea,  John  Taylor  and  Joseph  H. 
Cunningham  were  added  to  the  list;  September  29th,  185  i,  Sam- 
uel Russell;  March  20th,  1866,  Robert  Beatty;  April  i6th,  1873, 
John  R.Johnston;  second  Sabbath  of  February,  1874,  Thomas 
W.  Watt;  April  5th,  1874,  A.  B.  Hosack  and  H.  C.  McCormick; 
Nov.  28th,  1875,  Wm.  Barnett;  May  6th,  1878,  Charles  N.  Boyd; 
and  December  7th,  1879,  James  Calhoun.  Of  these,  three  have 
been  released  by  certificate  the  others,  with  the  exception  of  one 
suspended,  have  been  released  by  death.  The  present  eldership 
is  composed  of  James  Allen,  installed,  February  24th,  1868;  Adam 
Armstrong,  ordained,  November  28th,  1875  ;  Jacob  May,  May  6th, 
1878;  Hugh  M.  Kerr,  December  7th,  1879;  James  L.  Paull  and 
William  D.  McDowell,  September  4th,  1883.  (Mr.  Paull  was  or- 
dained and  installed,  April  i6th,  '"j^,  but  in  '74  was  transferred 
to  Dunbar,  returning  to  Connellsville  Church,  May  26th,  1883.) 
It  will  be  seen,  from  this  statement,  that,  from  the  organization  of 


132  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

the  church  to  the  present  date,  twenty-five  names  have  been  en- 
rolled as  elders. 

The  petition,  presented  to  the  Presbytery,  asking  for  an  or- 
ganization, was  accompanied  by  a  request  for  supplies.  Accord- 
ingly, the  records  show  that  Rev.  T.  M.  Chestnut  supplied  the 
church  for  some  time  in  1831,  and  Rev.  John  L.  Hawkins  acted 
as  Stated  Supply  from  December  15th,  1831,  till  June  20th,  1837. 
There  have  been  eight  pastors. 

Rev.  John  L.  Hawkins,  the  first  pastor,  was  installed,  June 
20th,  1837,  and  was  released,  April  12th,  1843. 

Rev.  Ross  Stevenson,  the  second,  was  installed,  June  13th, 
1845,  ^^^  released  in  October,  1852. 

Rev.  James  Black,  the  third  pastor,  was  installed,  June  14th, 
1853,  and  released  in  April,  i860. 

•  Rev.  N.  H.   G.  Fife,  the  fourth,  was   installed,  April    29th, 
1863;  released,  November  29th,  1867. 

Rev.  A.  B.  Fields,  the  fifth,  was  installed,  January  29th, 
1868,  and  released,  June  ist,  1869. 

Rev.  John  M.  Barnett,  the  sixth,  was  installed  the  third 
Monday  of  May,  1870,  and  released,  June  ist,  1882. 

Rev.  A.  Z.  McGogney,  the  seventh,  was  installed,  August 
27th,  1882,  and  released,  September  28th,  1886. 

Rev.  W.  A.  Edie,  the  present  pastor,  was  installed.  May  19th, 
1887. 

Among  those  who  supplied  the  church  during  intervals  of 
vacancy,  the  records  mention  Revs.  Wm.  P.  Moore  and  E.  R. 
Donehoo  as  having  acted  as  Stated  Supply,  the  former  for  one 
year  from  March  24th,  1861,  and  the  latter  for  six  months  from 
June  2ist,  1862. 

For  several  years  after  its  organization,  the  congregation 
held  its  services  in  other  churches,  its  ordinary  preaching  ser- 
vices in  the  Baptist  church  and  its  communion  services  in  the 
Methodist  church. 

On  the  6th  of  January,  1839,  the  congregation  was  permit- 
ted  to    enter  a  building  of  its  own,  an  occasion  of  which  the 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 33 

church  record  states  that  it  "was  marked  with  appropriate  relig- 
ious services."  This  building  continued  in  use  until  March  29th, 
1863,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  fire.  The  walls,  however,  were 
left  standing  and  the  church  was  soon  rebuilt. 

The  present  structure,  remodeled  and  built  on  the  founda- 
tions of  the  old,  with  chapel  built  in  the  rear  adjoining,  was  dedi- 
cated Sabbath,  December  21st,  1884. 

In  1871  a  parsonage  was  erected  on  lots  donated  for  the 
purpose  by  Messrs.  John  Taylor,  John  R.  Johnston  and  Thos. 
W.  Watt. 

The  town  of  Connellsville,  which  at  the  time  the  church  was 
organized  had  but  a  few  hundred  inhabitants,  has  now  a  popula- 
tion of  about  four  thousand  and  is  surrounded  by  a  thickly  set- 
tled community.  It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at,  therefore,  that  the 
church  should  have  received  large  accessions  to  its  membership 
during  the  period  of  its  history.  Organized  with  twenty-two 
members,  the  records,  in  1843,  •'^how  a  membership  of  iii.  In 
1845  a  number  of  members  were  dismissed  to  form  the  Indian 
Creek  Church,  and,  in  1874,  eighty-six  members  were  dismissed 
to  form  the  church  at  Dunbar.  The  present  membership  is 
about  320.  The  large  majority  of  the  membership  is  in  the 
town  of  Connellsville;  a  number  live  in  New  Haven,  however, 
across  the  Youghiogheny  river;  some  live  in  the  country  and 
some  in  Wheeler  and  White  Rock,  neighboring  towns.  Ser- 
vices, conducted  by  Rev.  N.  G.  White,  are  held  at  regular  inter- 
vals in  Wheeler,  in  a  chapel  owned  by  the  Connellsville  church. 
A  Sabbath  School,  also,  under  the  auspices  of  the  church,  is  held 
in  the  same  place.  A  congregational  Sabbath  School  was  es- 
tablished early  in  the  history  of  the  church.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  about  210,  under  the  superintendence  of  Mr.  James 
L.  Paull.  Women's  Missionary  Societies,  home  and  foreign, 
have  been  in  existence  for  several  years,  together  with  an  Aid 
Society,  which  has  rendered  valuable  service  in  reducing  the  debt 
on  the  new  house  of  worship. 

The  semi-centennial  anniversary  of  the  church's  history  was 
appropriately  celebrated  in  October,  1881. 


134  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 


McCLELLANDTOWN. 


BY  ELDER  GEORGE  PORTER. 

In  the  upland  county  of  Fayette,  in  Western  Pennsylvania, 
a  short  mile  almost  due  west  from  the  little  village  of  McClel- 
landtown,  in  sight  of  the  picturesque  hills  of  the  beautiful  Mon- 
ongahela,  .stands  the  Presbyterian  church  of  McClellandtown. 
It  is  surrounded  by  a  rich  farming  community.  The  land  is 
rolling,  well-watered  and  fertile  and  the  people  are  industrious, 
prosperous  and  happy. 

Regular  Presbyterian  preaching  dates  as  far  back  as  1812 
or  18 1 3,  where  Van  Emon  first,  and  after  him  Beeber,  preached 
in  the  log  school-house,  which  stood  on  the  farm  of  Elias  Par- 
shall.  The  school-house  has  long  been  torn  down,  and  the  little 
company  Avho  worshiped  there  has  almost  all  been  called  home 
by  the  Master.  Preaching  was  held  in  the  school-house,  and  the 
communion  in  the  woods  near  by,  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
James  A.  Weltner.  Two  sermons  each  day  of  preaching  were 
had,  morning  and  evening  in  winter,  and  in  summer  in  daytime, 
with  an  interval  of  two  hours  between.  The  preacher  came 
from  the  old  Glade  Church  in  Greene  county. 

This  arrangement  continued  until  about  the  year  1837,  when 
Rev.  Samuel  Wilson,  then  a  young  man,  preached  for  the  peo- 
ple in  the  old  brick  Baptist  church,  which  stood  hard  by  the  old 
stone  school-house,  within  easy  view  of  our  present  church.  He 
preached  here  and  at  Masontown  and  taught  school  at  Union- 
town,  but  soon  added  Dunlap's  Creek  to  his  charge  and  then 
dropped  Masontown. 

The  interest  deepening  and  members  increasing,  it  was 
deemed  not  only  expedient,  but  necessary  to  organize  a  church 
in  this  place,  for  which  object  thirty-nine  members  petitioned 
Presbytery.  In  accordance  with  this  request,  Redstone  Presby- 
tery appointed  Revs.  William  Johnson,  A.  G.  Fairchild  and  Sam- 
uel Wilson  to  organize  a  church.  This  committee  on  the  23d  of 
November,  A.   D.,    1839,  executed    the   will   of  Presbytery  and 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 35 

elected  Thomas  Wilson,  Samuel  Gettys,  William  Grov^e,  Joseph 
Deffenbaugh  and  Elisha  Laughead  as  elders.  Thus  the  present 
church  was  organized,  founded  and  started  on  its  grand  and 
glorious  mission  as  part  of  the  great  army  of  churches,  to  "fight 
the  good  fight  of  faith." 

Rev.  Samuel  Wilson  was  installed  pastor,  May  19th,  18 14, 
over  the  large  charge  of  Dunlap's  Creek  and  McClellandtown. 
He  entered  into  the  work  with  all  the  energy  of  his  nature  and 
for  a  period  of  more  than  thirty  years  ministered  acceptably  to 
the  people  "in  season  and  out  of  season."  He  was  a  man  who 
prided  himself  on  punctuality,  a  large  man,  of  commanding 
presence,  and  was  loved  and  respected  by  all  who  knew  him. 
The  congregation  could  rest  assured  on  the  morning  of  preach- 
ing that  he  would  be  in  the  pulpit,  ready  to  begin  the  service 
promptly  at  eleven  o'clock.  If  a  little  early,  he  might  be  seen 
sitting  upright  in  the  saddle  and  coming  in  in  fine  shape;  or  if 
time  pressed  him,  leaning  forward  and  tapping  his  horse  at  each 
step  with  the  old-fashioned  cowhide,  which  every  one  carried 
who  rode  on  horseback  at  that  time.  Mr.  Wilson's  style  of 
preaching  and  his  manner  in  the  pulpit  were  looked  upon  at  that 
time  as  being  perfect.  He  always  read  his  sermons  from  full 
manuscripts.  They  were  well  prepared,  deep,  searching  and 
thoroughly  Presbyterian  in  all  their  details.  Whatever  he  did  was 
always  well  done. 

It  soon  became  evident  that  a  church  ought  to  be  built  for 
the  growing  congregation.  Accordingly,  at  a  meeting  of  Presby- 
terians which  was  held  in  1843,  it  was  resolved  to  build  a  church 
and  the  north-west  corner  of  Jacob  Deffenbaugh's  farm  was  fixed 
as  the  site  for  the  new  edifice.  David  Coffman,  John  Wilson, 
Isaac  Core  and  John  Weltner  were  appointed  to  collect  funds 
and  superintend  the  erection  of  the  building.  There  were  two 
doors  in  the  south  end  of  the  church.  The  male  portion  of  the 
congregation,  with  commendable  pride  and  safety,  entered  by 
the  upper  door  with  the  easy  step,  and  left  the  female  portion  to 
get  in  as  best  they  could  over  the  rickety  logs  which  served  as 
an  approach  to  the  lower  door. 


136  PRESBYTERY   OF    REDSTONE. 

The  congregation  was  very  Puritan  and  exclusive  when  once 
in  the  church,  the  males  occupying  one  side  and  the  females  the 
other,  with  a  strong  division  between.  If,  by  chance,  a  stranger 
entered  the  wrong  door  and  seated  himself  with  the  opposite  sex, 
the  gravity  of  the  congregation  was  disturbed  and  it  was  looked 
upon  as  a  good  joke.  The  pulpit  was  at  the  north  end  of  the 
house  and  was  very  much  "stuck  up."  It  was  reached  by  a  flight 
of  three  or  four  steps  and  a  small  door  shut  the  preacher  in  from 
the  people.  The  roof  of  the  old  house  was  supported  by 
six  wooden  columns,  on  which  hung  tin  candle-holders,  for 
the  common  "tallow  dip."  More  style  was  displayed  in  the  light 
for  the  pulpit  and  glass  candlesticks  were  used.  The  janitor's 
duty  was  to  tiptoe  around  by  the  pulpit  and  by  the  wooden  pil- 
lars, and  snuff  the  candles  carefully  and  solemnly  with  a 
pair  of  old-fashioned  snuffers,  generally  snuffing  out  about  half 
the  candles  and  lighting  them  at  their  nearest  neighbors.  Of 
course  every  one  watched  the  snuffing  operation  and  laughed 
when  a  candle  went  out. 

The  clerk  stood  meekly  in  front  of  the  pulpit  ready  to  "start 
the  metre"  and  "line-out"  the  hymns.  The  minister  read  the 
first  two  lines  and  then  handed  the  book  over  and  down  to  the 
clerk,  who  then  started  the  music  and  did  the  rest  of  the  "lining- 
out." 

A  Sabbath  School  was  started  in  1846,  with  Samuel  Gettys 
as  superintendent,  and  without  a  single  failure  a  school  has  been 
held  every  summer  since.  Sometimes  the  school  has  almost 
died  out  and  then  again  it  has  revived  and  taken  on  new  life  and 
energy  and  it  is  now  in  a  flourishing  condition.  After  Samuel 
Gettys  came  Jacob  Deffenbaugh  as  superintendent,  then  Joseph 
Deffenbaugh,  then  Hugh  J.  Gilmore,  then  the  writer  of  this  his- 
tory. The  amount  of  good  this  school  has  done  and  is  now  do- 
ing, can  only  be  known  when  eternity  shall  reveal  all  things. 

The  old  church  was  accidentally  destroyed  by  fire  in  the  fall 
of  1865.  This  was  a  severe  loss,  but  with  a  firm  reliance  on  the 
Divine  Blessing,  the  little  congregation  set  vigorously  to  work  to 
rebjuild  the  church.  At  a  regularly  called  meeting  of  the  con- 
gregation, April  1 2th,  1865,  it  was   resolved  to  rebuild  on  the 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 3/ 

same  site.  A  committee  consisting  of  John  Wilson,  Hugh  J. 
Gilmore,  Conrad  DeiTenbaugh,  John  Coffman  and  Isaac  P.  Ken- 
dall was  appointed  to  superintend  the  erection  of  the  new  church. 
It  was  dedicated,  on  the  15th  of  February,  1867,  and  now  we 
have  this  present  solid,  commodious  and  beautiful  house  of  wor- 
ship, the  high  old  pulpit  and  the  tin  candle-holders  gone. 

Rev.  Samuel  Wilson  resigned  the  pastorate  in  1869,  lamented 
by  all.  He  had  been  the  spiritual  father  of  nearly  the  whole 
congregation  and  his  memory  will  always  be  green  in  the  hearts 
of  his  people. 

Rev.  James  P.  Fulton  was  called  in  the  fall  of  1869.  Dur- 
ing his  pastorate  the  same  charge  continued,  Dunlap's  Creek  and 
McClellandtown.  Mr.  Fulton  was  a  man  of  deep  piety  and 
earnestness.  He  generally  read  his  sermons,  but  was  seen  and 
heard  to  best  advantage  when  he  spoke  without  notes.  His 
great  theme  was  a  personal  Saviour,  the  certainty  of  punishment 
for  sin  and  the  all-powerful  love  of  Christ  for  a  world  lost  in 
wickedness. 

At  the  close  of  Mr.  Fulton's  pastorate  the  church  of  Dun- 
lap's  Creek  notified  the  church  of  McClellandtown  of  their  in- 
tention to  ask  Presbyter^' to  dissolve  the  relation  of  the  churches, 
as  they  had  concluded  to  employ  a  minister  the  whole  of  his 
time.  This  was  a  cruel  blow  to  the  struggling  little  church,  as 
it  was  emphatically  the  legitimate  child  of  the  old  Dunlap's 
Creek  Church.  Nourished  by  the  mother  church,  the  bounds  of 
each  meeting,  the  members  mingling  together,  theirs  was  a  com- 
mon interest  and  together  they  grew  and  prospered.  This  un- 
natural act  of  a  natural  mother  casting  out  her  offspring  left  the 
little  church  again  out  in  the  cold,  with  dissolution  staring  her  in 
the  face.  But  determining  not  to  be  destroyed  thus  ruthlessly, 
she  soon  formed  a  connection  with  Tent  and  Fairchance.  Al- 
though this  was  not  a  natural  union,  as  the  churches  were  in  no 
way  identified,  the  connection  has  proved  harmonious  and  the 
churches  are  all  prosperous  and  happy. 

April  1st,  1879,  Rev.  S.  S.  Bergen  was  called  to  take  charge  of 
the  new-made  pastorate,  Tent,  Fairchance  and  McClellandtown. 
Mr.  Bergen  was  a  popular  man  in  the  congregation.     He  was  an 


138  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE, 

earnest  talker  and  expounder  of  the  Scriptures,  almost  invariably 
reading  his  sermons.  His  strong  points  were,  the  punishment  of 
men  for  ingratitude,  carelessness,  listlessness,  and  allowing  them- 
selves to  drift  unprepared  into  eternity,  knowing  better.  Mr, 
Bergen  was  most  active  in  burnishing  up  the  church  outside  and 
in.  Through  his  exertions  the  present  roof  was  put  on  the 
church  and  the  modern  and  beautiful  lamps  hung  in  the  inside. 
He  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request,  by  Presbytery,  April,  1882. 

In  October,  1882,  our  present  pastor,  Rev.  M.  C.  Bailey, 
was  called,  and  has  continued  ever  since  to  minister  acceptably 
to  his  charge.  Mr.  Bailey's  style  of  oratory  differs  from  all  who 
have  preceded  him.  He  speaks  on  all  occasions  without  notes, 
throws  his  whole  soul  into  his  theme  and  when  fully  aroused 
fairly  pounds  his  thoughts  into  his  hearers.  His  great  idea  is 
that  prophecy  is  being  fulfilled  at  this  time  and  in  this  country. 
That  this  is  the  limit  of  "Westward,"  that  the  "Star  of  Empire" 
can  go  no  farther,  that  here  God  intends  to  display  His  power 
and  that  the  history  now  making  and  to  be  made  in  the  very 
near  future,  will  be  momentous  in  import  and  more  wonderful 
than  all  that  has  gone  before  or  will  come  after. 

The  growth  of  our  church  has  been  slow  but  sure.  During 
the  last  part  of  Mr.  Wilson's  pastorate,  a  special  outpouring  of 
God's  Spirit  brought  scores  into  the  fold.  At  the  dedication  of 
the  new  house  there  seemed  to  be  a  feeling  of  deep  interest  and 
the  meetings  were  continued  from  the  day  of  dedication,  Febru- 
ary 15th,  to  April  14th,  when  forty  were  publicly  taken  into  the 
church  and  acknowledged  Christ  as  their  Saviour.  This  was, 
indeed,  a  day  long  to  be  remembered  in  the  history  of  the  church 
and  the  good  effects  are  still  seen  and  felt  in  this  community. 
Quite  a  number  united  with  the  church  during  Mr.  Fulton's 
charge  and  under  our  present  pastor  over  twenty  have  been 
added  to  the  church,  we  hope  of  such  as  shall  be  saved. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson,  Redstone 
Presbytery  held  a  regular  session  at  our  little  church,  which  was 
quite  an  event  in  her  history.  While  Mr.  Bergen  ministered  to 
us  a  second  meeting  of  Presbytery  was  held  here,  so  this   little 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 39 

church  has  had  the  honor  of  entertaining  two  meetings  of  Red- 
stone Presbytery. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  congregation  held,  November  12th, 
1852,  Johnson  Vankirk  and  Jacob  Deffenbaugh,  Jr.,  were  ordain- 
ed Ruhng  Elders.  James  Wilson  and  George  H.  Core  were  or- 
dained and  took  their  seats  as  Ruling  Elders,  April  25th,  1862. 
James  Scott,  Conrad  Deffenbaugh  and  George  Porter  were  elect- 
ed Ruling  Elders,  May  24th,  1868,  and  ordained,  June  13th,  1868. 
April  22d,  1877,  George  Dearth,  Josiah  B.  Crow  and  Henry  D. 
Core  were  elected  Ruling  Elders,  and  on  June  loth,  were  by 
prayer  and  the  laying  on  of  hands,  regularly  ordained.  The 
present  elders  are  Conrad  Deffenbaugh,  George  W.  Core,  Henry 
D.  Core,  Josiah  B.  Crow  and  George  Porter. 

We  are  glad  to  say  (not  boastingly)  that  this  church  has 
been  and  now  is  a  blessing  to  the  community  in  which  it  is 
placed,  not  only  to  Presbyterians,  but  to  the  whole  community. 
The  Sabbath  School — a  union  one — welcomes  all  who  come;  for 
the  great  work  of  the  church  is  to  save  souls.  The  great  duty 
seems  to  be  to  save  the  souls  of  the  children,  believing  that  they, 
well-educated  morally,  are  the  anchor  to  hold  our  country,  not 
only  when  torn  and  rent  by  political  fury  or  bloody  war,  but  to 
hold  it  for  God  and  His  Christ. 

During  all  these  long  years  of  prosperity,  we  are  glad  to 
know  our  church  has  not  been  distracted  and  torn  by  dissensions 
and  quarrels.  Free  from  scandal  and  complaining,  we  thank 
God  that  we  have  passed  so  long  without  any  of  these  scenes 
that  do  so  much  harm  to  the  cause  of  religion.  Now,  while  we 
are  thankful  for  our  present  peace  and  good  feeling,  let  us  be 
careful  for  the  future  and  hand  down  this  little  church  with  her 
honor  as  bright  and  untarnished  as  we  found  it  and  as  it  is  now. 


140  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

SPRINGHILL  FURNACE. 


BY    REV.    H.    O.    ROSBOROUGH. 

Mr.  John  Kennedy  Duncan,  an  elder  in  the  Tent  Church, 
purchased  Springhill  Furnace  and  moved  to  the  place  in  1834. 
Rev.  A.  G.  Fairchild,  D.  D.,  was  in  the  habit  of  preaching  in  the 
neighborhood  on  week  days.  In  1836  a  frame  meeting-house 
was  built  entirely  at  Mr.  Duncan's  expense.  This  house  had 
two  front  doors,  with  the  pulpit  between  them.  In  1879  this 
building  was  repaired  and  remodeled,  there  being  now  but  one 
door  and  the  pulpit  in  the  opposite  end  of  the  house,  at  a  cost  of 
^507,  and  the  repaired  building  was  dedicated,  February  22d, 
1880,  by  Rev.  H.  O.  Rosborough.  In  1841  the  number  of  mem- 
bers in  the  vicinity  had  increased  to  about  twenty-five,  when  a 
petition  was  forwarded  to  Presbytery  for  the  organization  of  a 
church.  Presbytery  granted  the  request  and  appointed  a  com- 
mittee, consisting  of  Revs.  Fairchild,  Stoneroad  and  McLean,  to 
attend  to  the  organization,  the  time  being  left  discretionary  with 
the  committee.  The  committee  met,  June  i8th,  the  congrega- 
tion having  been  previously  notified.  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad 
preached,  Heb.  11:24.  The  following  persons  were  received  to 
constitute  the  church  about  to  be  organized,  viz. :  Dismissed 
from  Tent  Church — John  K.  Duncan,  Mrs.  Anna  W.  Duncan, 
Eliza  Oliphant,  Elizabeth  Keerns,  Mary  Osborn,  Sam'l  Bunting, 
Nancy  Bunting,  Matilda  Phillips,  John  Williams,  Mrs.  Williams, 
Jas.  Huston,  Margaret  Huston,  Jane  Shuff,  Catherine  Biglow, 
Sam'l  Buxton,  Ruth  A.  Buxton,  Joseph,  James  and  Rebecca 
Butler.  George's  Creek  Church:  Mrs.  Beatie.  John  Dunlap, 
Catherine  Dunlap,  Rosanna  Davis,  Jesse  E.  Stentz  and  Samuel 
N.  Bedford.  Uniontown  Church :  Samuel  Duncan  and  Mar- 
garet, his  wife.  The  committee  then  proceeded  to  organize  the 
church  in  the  constitutional  order.  Samuel  Duncan  and  James 
Huston  were  elected  elders  and  were  ordained.  Mr.  Stoneroad 
presided,  proposed  the  constitutional  questions  and  made  the  or- 
dination prayer,  and  Mr.  Fairchild  delivered  an  appropriate  ex- 
hortation to  the  people  and  closed  with  prayer.  Rev.  W.  W. 
McLean  had  been  appointed  Stated  Supply  by   Presbytery  at  its 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  I4I 

previous  meeting.     John  K.  Duncan  was  also  elected  an  elder. 

Rev.  W.  W.  McLean  supplied  the  church,  or  as  some  think 
was  pastor,  until  1851,  when  he  was  called  to  the  Mt.  Pleasant 
Church. 

The  church  had  many  supplies  from  1851  to  1864,  among 
whom  were  Dr.  Fairchild,  J.  Mateer,  W.  A.  Fleming,  H,  W. 
Biggs,  J.  Davis,  J.  McClintock,  J.  H.  Flanagan  and  H.  O.  Ros- 
borough. 

On  the  13th  of  June,  1864,  Rev.  H.  O.  Rosborough  was  in- 
stalled pastor  for  one-third  of  his  time  by  Rev.  J.  McClintock 
and  Rev.  W.  F.  Hamilton,  who  had  been  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose, on  a  salary  of  $166  per  annum.  This  pastorate  continued 
for  nearly  twelve  years. 

Rev.  C.  B.  Wakefield  was  installed  pastor  of  this  church,  in 
connection  with  Fairchance,  June  22d,  1881.  This  relation  lasted 
only  about  three  momths. 

Some  of  the  supplies  since  1876  were  Revs.  J.  B.  Dickey, 
M.  C.  Bailey  and  H.  O.  Rosborough — the  latter  by  appointment 
of  Presbyteiy,  has  been  for  several  years  Moderator  of  the  Ses- 
sion. 

Total  number  of  members  from  the  organization  to  July 
1st,  1887,  is  192 ;  about  thirty-six  of  these  are  now  (1887)  living 
in  the  bounds  of  the  congregation. 

Two  members  became  ministers  of  Gospel,  viz. :  Samuel 
Campbell  and  Jacob  Ruble.  Henry  H.  Ryland  is  now  a  candi- 
date for  the  ministry. 


MOUNT  WASHINGTON. 


BY    REV.    A.    S.    MILHOLLAND,    D.    D, 

As  but  few  facts  pertaining  to  this  church  have  been  placed 
upon  record  and  but  meagre  information  can  be  obtained  from 
those  now  living  within  its  bounds,  we  shall  be  able  to  prepare 


142  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

but  a  very  brief  history.  We  shall  attempt  to  present,  as  accu- 
rately as  possible,  but  a  few  of  the  most  important  facts,  as  we 
can  gather  them  from  the  limited  sources  at  hand. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  held  at  Laurel 
Hill,  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  October,  1841,  the  Revs.  Joel  Stone- 
road  and  W.  W.  McLean,  and  Mr.  Wm.  Redick,  elder,  were  ap- 
pointed a  committee  to  visit  Mount  Washington  and  vicinity  to 
inquire  into  the  expediency  of  organizing  a  Presbyterian  church, 
and,  if  they  judged  it  expedient,  to  organize  a  church  there  be- 
fore the  next  meeting  of  Presbytery,  to  be  called  the  Church  of 
Mount  Washington. 

After  considerable  inquiry  and  deliberation,  the  committee 
concluded  that  the  interest  of  truth  as  well  as  the  interest  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  required  such  organization,  and  accord- 
ingly appointed  the  24th  day  of  March  (1842?)  as  the  day 
upon  which  the  church  should  be  formed.  A  majority  of  the  com- 
mittee being  present  on  the  day  appointed.  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad 
preached  on  the  occasion,  from  2  Cor.  12:10,  latter  clause:  "For 
when  I  am  weak  then  am  I  strong,"  and  after  the  preaching  of 
the  sermon  proceeded  to  the  election  of  Elders.  Messrs.  Seth 
Hyatte  and  Simon  Snyder  were  elected  to  that  office,  after  which, 
Mr.  Stoneroad  made  the  necessary  remarks  on  the  nature  and 
duty  of  the  eldership  and  the  reciprocal  obligation  of  both  el- 
ders and  people,  and  there,  with  the  elders  present,  as  one  of  the 
committee,  proceeded  by  prayer  and  imposition  of  hands,  sol- 
emnly to  ordain  and  set  apart  the  elders  elected  to  the  office  of 
Ruling  Elder  in  that  congregation,  the  elders  and  people  hav- 
ing answered  affirmatively  the  requisite  constitutional  questions. 
The  names  of  the  persons  dismissed  on  the  occasion  from  the 
church  of  Uniontown,  with  a  view  to  form  the  new  organization, 
are  as  follows :  Mr.  Benjamin  Elliot,  Mrs.  Eunice  Elliott,  Mr. 
Daugherty  Elliot,  Mr.  Solomon  Elliot,  Mrs.  Susan  Kretchman, 
Mrs.  Esther  Conaway,  Mrs.  Long  (daughter  of  Mrs.  Kretchman,) 
Mrs.  Shaffer,  Mrs.  Reynolds,  Mrs.  Belinda  Reynolds,  Mrs.  Mc- 
Cartney, Mrs.  Mathews,  Mrs.  Ripple,  Mrs.  Mary  Elliot,  Miss 
Mary  Elliot,  Mr.  John  Robinson,  Mrs.  Rebecca  Robinson,  Mrs. 
Gaither,    Miss    Elizabeth  Gaither,    Mr.    William    Gaither    (un- 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 43 

der  suspension),  Mrs.  Hill,  Miss  Christiana  Hill,  Miss  Nan- 
cy Hill,  Miss  Jane  Hill,  Mr.  Robert  Hill. 

The  following  persons  are  from  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Tent,  viz.:  Mr.  Simon  Snyder,  Mr.  Morgan  H.  Jones,  Mrs.  Sa- 
rah O.  Stewart,  Mr.  Seth  Hagan  and  Miss  Hyatte. 

Previous  to  the  organization  of  this  church  at  Mt.  Wash- 
ington, there  was  a  church  about  seven  miles  distant,  known  as 
Brown's  Church.  Whether  this  church  was  ever  formally 
organized  we  do  not  know,  but  the  presumption  is  that  it  was 
not.  From  this  time  on,  for  some  years,  the  Brown  and  Mt. 
Washington  Churches  seem  to  be  one  organization  of  one  and 
the  same  church.  The  next  record  after  the  one  concerning  the 
organization  of  Mt.  Washington  Church,  is  as  follows : 

"The  Session  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Mt.  Washing- 
ton met  at  Brown's  Church,  on  the  2d  day  in  May,  1842,  for  the 
purpose  of  examining  applicants  for  admission  to  the  privileges 
of  the  church.  Present,  Rev.  J.  McClintock,  Moderator;  Seth 
Hyatte  and  Simon  Snyder,  Ruling  Elders.  Mrs.  Daugherty  El- 
Hot  was  received  at  this  meeting."  The  next  meeting  was  held 
at  Mt.  Washington,  August  20th,  1842.  The  next  record  reads: 
"The  Session  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Mt.  Washington  con- 
vened at  Brown's  Church  on  the  3d  Sabbath  of  June,  1843." 
The  Rev.  Mr.  Martin  was  the  Moderator  of  this  meeting.  An- 
other record  reads:  "The  Session  of  Mount  Washington  and 
Brown's  Church  convened  at  Brown's  on  the  3d  day  of  June, 
1845.  -^gain>  the  Session  of  Mt.  Washington  and  Brown's 
Church  met  at  Brown's  Church  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  1846." 

One  of  the  elders  of  Mt.  Washington  Church  informs  me 
that,  at  an  early  day  the  old  log  meeting  house,  which  stood  on 
or  near  the  site  of  the  present  Tent  Church,  was  torn  down  and 
removed  to  the  mountains,  where  it  was  re-erected  and  is  still 
standing,  though  not  occupied  and  is  known  as  the  "Old  Brown 
Church."  The  distance  which  these  logs  were  hauled  is  about 
twelve  miles.  The  name  of  "Brown"  seems  to  have  been 
dropped  about  the  year  1863  ;  it  is  thereafter  known  as  Mt.  Wash- 
ington. This  church  has  never  been  strong — never  self-support- 
ing— and  so  far  as  I  can  ascertain,  never  had  a  settled  pastor. 


144  PRESBYTERY   OF    REDSTONE. 

The  Revs.  Joel  Stoneroad,  H.  O.  Rosborough,  S.  S.  Bergen, 
C.  B.  Wakefield  and  C.  C.  B.  Duncan  have  been  among  its  Stated 
Supplies. 

Mr.  G.  W.  Hensel,  Mr.  James  McCann  and  Mr.  S.  D.  Elli- 
ott compose  the  present  Session. 

The  present  church  building,  which  is  small,  is  built  of  logs, 
weather-boarded  and  plastered,  and  was  erected  soon  after  the  or- 
ganization of  the  church. 

The  membership  at  this  time  is  not  more  than  thirty. 


WEST  NEWTON. 


BY    REV.    J.    C.    MELOY. 

Prior  to  185 1  this  church  was  a  part  of  the  Sewickley  con- 
gregation, whose  house  of  worship  was  located  four  miles  from 
the  town  of  West  Newton,  originally  called  Robbstown.  For 
many  years  people  living  in  town  rode  or  walked  over  the  hills 
to  worship  the  God  of  their  fathers  in  that  grand  old  church, 
whose  history  runs  back  over  a  period  of  more  than  1 10  years. 
It  is  difficult  to  tell  who  preached  the  first  sermon  in  West  New- 
ton or  who  planted  the  seed  which  has  grown  and  matured  into 
the  vigorous  plant  of  to-day.  The  earliest  trace  of  evangelistic 
work  is  a  communication  in  "The  Weekly  Recorder"  of  1822, 
emanating  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  A.  O.  Patterson,  D.  D.,  who 
at  that  time  was  pastor  of  the  Sewickley  Presbyterian  Church. 
Speaking  of  eight  different  Sabbath  Schools  which  he  had  or- 
ganized and  maintained  within  the  bounds  of  his  charge,  he  says: 
"Robbstown  Sabbath  School,  No.  i,  was  organized  in  March 
last,  under  the  direction  of  two  superintendents  and  seven  teach- 
ers and  contains  seventy-two  scholars,  one-half  of  whom  recite 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 45 

from  memory  and  had  recited  on  the  27th  of  October,  6,042 
verses  of  Scripture,  234  pages  of  Catechism  and  226  hymns. 
This  school  has  been  well  attended  and  continues  to  prosper." 

Public  worship  was  held  as  opportunity  presented  itself,  the 
services  being  conducted  a  few  times  in  a  saw  mill,  on  the  river 
bank,  which  has  long  since  disappeared,  and  more  frequently  in 
the  old  octagon  school -house,  once  the  pride  of  the  town  and 
still  permitted  to  stand  as  a  relic  of  by-gone  days.  It  is  remem- 
bered that  Rev.  William  Annan,  pastor  of  the  Sewickley  Church, 
often  held  such  services  in  these  buildings. 

In  the  year  1835  a  few  of  the  liberal  minded  Presbyterians 
living  in  or  near  the  village,  prominent  among  whom  were  Hon. 
George  Plumer  and  his  sons,  Alexander  and  John  C.  Plumer,  de- 
termined to  erect  a  house  of  worship.  But  being  too  weak  finan- 
cially to  perform  the  work  themselves,  a  proposition  was  made 
to  them  by  the  Evangelical  Lutherans  to  join  them  in  this  en- 
terprise, the  Lutheran  denomination  to  hold  a  fourth  interest, 
and  each  to  have  a  specific  part  of  the  time  for  the  holding  of 
public  worship.  By  mutual  consent  this  partnership  was  dis- 
solved in  the  year  1850,  the  Presbyterians  purchasing  from  the 
Lutherans,  for  the  sum  of  ^650,  their  entire  interest  in  the  build- 
ing and  grounds. 

It  was  now  thought  by  many  that  the  time  had  come  to  or- 
ganize a  church  distinct  and  separate  from  the  mother  congrega- 
tion. The  town  having  taken  to  itself  a  new  name  was  growing 
in  size  and  importance.  Presbyterians  were  gathering  in  and 
about  it ;  the  distance  to  Sewickley  was  too  great  for  many  to  at- 
tend, and  there  were  difficulties  constantly  arising  in  the  prosecu- 
tion of  co-operative  work.  Accordingly,  a  memorial,  numerous- 
1}'  signed  by  Presbyterians  living  in  West  Newton,  was  sent  to 
the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  asking  for  the  organization  of  a 
church. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  the  minutes  of  Presbytery, 
viz. :  "Sessions  of  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  West  New- 
ton, October  2d,  1850.  The  action  expressed  in  the  follow- 
ing minutes  was  had,  viz. :  A  memorial  from  We.st  New- 
ton  and   vicinity   asking   for   the  organization  of   a  church  in 


146  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

West  Newton  was  presented  and  read.  On  motion,  it  was  re- 
solved, that  the  request  of  the  memoriaHsts  be  granted  and  that 
Messrs.  R.  Stevenson  and  J.  R.  Hughes  be  a  committee  to  or- 
ganize said  church,  on  the  8th  day  of  January,  185 1.  At  the 
Sessions  of  the  Presbytery  in  Connellsville,  April  8th,  1851,  the 
following  record  was  made,  viz. :  The  committee  appointed  at 
the  last  meeting  to  organize  a  church  at  West  Newton,  reported 
that  they  had  organized  said  church  with  four  elders  and  seven- 
ty-one members.  This  report  was  adopted  and  the  conduct  of 
the  committee  approved." 

The  names  of  the  "four  elders"  referred  to  in  the  above  re- 
port are  William  Brookens,  Francis  McConaughey,  M.  P.  Smith 
and  Thomas  Robertson.  The  first  trustees  of  the  church  were 
Geo.  Plumer,  David  Markle  and  Nimrod  Gregg,  and  the  first 
treasurer  was  M.  P.  Smith. 

Rev.  Watson  Hughes  had  been  the  pastor  of  the  mother 
church  before  the  separation,  but  having  resigned  his  former 
charge  he  now  became  pastor  of  the  new  organization  and  la- 
bored successfully  and  happily  in  that  position  until  the  spring 
of  1855,  at  which  time  he  resigned  his  office  and  removed  from 
our  bounds. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  the  congregation  called  the 
Rev.  Daniel  Williams,  who  served  the  church  until  the  spring  of 
1857. 

The  next  fall  a  unanimous  call  was  made  out  for  the  pastoral 
services  of  the  Rev.  A.  O.  Patterson,  D.  D.,  who  many  years  be- 
fore had  served,  with  great  acceptability,  the  Sewickley  Church. 
The  call  was  accepted  and  a  most  happy  pastoral  relation  con- 
tinued until  April,  1863.  After  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Patterson 
the  pulpit  was  vacant  for  more  than  a  year. 

In  the  autumn  of  1864,  Rev.  O.  H.  Miller  became  pastor 
and  served  the  church  until  the  fall  of  1869. 

In  the  spring  of  1870,  Rev.  Henry  Fulton  was  installed 
pastor,  discharging  the  duties  of  his  office  until  June,  1874. 
During  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Fulton  the  congregation  built  a  sub- 
.stantial  frame  parsonage,  containing  seven   rooms,  which  is  still 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  1 47 

held  for  the  use  of  the  pastor.  The  cost  of  this  property  was 
$2,500. 

On  the  1st  day  of  November,  1874,  the  present  pastor,  Rev. 
J.  C.  Meloy,  began  his  labors.  Soon  after  the  installation  of  Mr. 
Meloy,  steps  were  taken  for  the  erection  of  a  new  house  of  wor- 
ship. A  more  desirable  location  was  secured  on  Main  street; 
various  subscriptions  were  taken  and  the  old  building  sold.  The 
present  Gothic  brick  house  was  erected,  and  on  the  12th  day  of 
May,  1879,  was  dedicated,  free  of  debt.  The  entire  cost  of  the 
building  and  grounds  was  about  $22,000.  It  has  a  seating  ca- 
pacity of  about  450;  has  a  delightful  auditorium  and  basement, 
and  is  justly  considered  an  ornament  to  the  town.  The  remem- 
brance of  our  struggles,  our  hopes  and  fears,  during  the  erection 
of  this  church — a  time  of  financial  trouble  in  the  country — lin- 
gers in  the  memory  of  our  people.  The  Building  Committee 
were  Geo.  Plumer,  chairman,  J.  Q.  Robinson,  M.  D.,  H.  D. 
Smith,  John  Markle  and  Andrew  Robertson.  The  congregation 
is  largely  indebted  to  this  committee,  especially  to  its  chairman 
for  the  beautiful  building  we  now  occupy. 

A  complete  list  of  Ruling  Elders  who  have  served  the  con- 
gregation are  the  following,  viz. :  William  Brookens,  Francis 
McConaughey,  M.  P.  Smith,  Thomas  Robertson,  Robert  Guffey, 
J.  C.  Plumer,  Paul  Hough,  H.  D.  Smith,  John  McKenery,  R.  W. 
Hunter,  William  Plumer,  Alexander  Rankin,  R.  D.  Humes  and 
David  A.  Hunter. 

The  following  are  our  Board  of  Trustees,  viz. :  Geo.  Plu- 
mer, F.  V.  Jeffries,  Robt.  Taylor,  A.  N.  Franklin  and  Benjamin 
Sampson. 

It  would  prolong  our  history  too  much  to  speak  of  the  faith- 
ful services  performed  by  many  of  our  members,  not  only  in  the 
eldership,  but  also  among  those  who  have  occupied  humbler 
places.  We  have  from  the  beginning  of  our  organization  en- 
joyed uninterrupted  peace  among  ourselves,  together  with  a  good 
degree  of  prosperity,  both  temporal  and  spiritual. 

The  Session  reported  to  the  last  meeting  of  Presbytery  the 
following  statistics  for  the  year  ending,  April  ist,  1887,  viz. :  El- 
ders, six;  Deacons,  none;  added  on  examination,  four;  certificate. 


148  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

eighteen;  total,  205  ;  Sabbath  School  membership,  150;  adults 
baptized,  two;  infants  baptized,  five;  contributions  to  Home  Mis- 
sions, $129;  Foreign  Missions,  $i6g;  Education,  $22;  Publica- 
tion, $20;  Church  Erection,  $iy;  Relief  Fund,  $1^',  Freedmen, 
$i6g;  Sustentation,  ;^io;  Aid  for  Colleges,  ;^io;  General  Assem- 
bly, $17. SSl  Congregational,  ;$2,03i ;  Miscellaneous,  $5. 

Our  Sabbath  School,  although  small  (150),  is  a  very  pleas- 
ant one.  We  have  a  good  Library  and  faithful  officers  and  teach- 
ers. We  have  also  an  interesting  prayer  meeting,  which  is  held 
every  Wednesday  evening  in  the  basement.  For  what  God  has 
done  for  us  in  His  Providence  and  by  His  grace,  we  trust  we  are 
truly  thankful.  As  we  approach  our  thirty-seventh  mile-stone, 
we  desire  to  erect  our  Ebenezer,  saying  :  "Hitherto  hath  the 
Lord  helped  us." 


PLEASANT   UNITY. 


BY  REV.  ROBERT  F.  SMITH. 

It  was  in  the  year  1831  the  good  people  of  Pleasant  Unity 
built  a  neat  brick  church  almost  opposite  the  present  house  of 
worship.  The  old  house  stood  for  about  fifty  years,  when  it  was 
taken  down  and  much  of  the  old  material  used  in  the  new  build- 
ing. The  church  was  a  preaching  point  only  and  was  supplied 
principally  by  the  pastors  of  the  Mt.  Pleasant  church.  All  the 
Presbyterians  in  and  about  Pleasant  Unity  were  members  of  the 
Mt.  Pleasant  Presbyterian  Church.  It  was  a  matter  of  convenience 
to  have  preaching  occasionally  in  their  midst. 

For  several  years  after  the  church  was  built  Rev.  Andrew  O. 
Patterson,  the  second  pastor  of  Mt.  Pleasant  church,  (the  first  was 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 49 

Dr.  Power),  preached  occasionally  for  the  people  of  Pleasant  Uni- 
ty. Dr.  Patterson  served  the  Mt.  Pleasant  church  fourteen  years, 
resigning  in  1834.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Samuel  Mont- 
gomery whose  pastorate  covered  ten  years,  from  1835  to  1845. 
He,  like  his  predecessor,  preached  occasionally  in  the  brick  church 
at  Pleasant  Unity.  A  few  years  after  the  division  into  Old  and 
New  School,  Mr.  Montgomery,  with  about  two-thirds  of  his  peo- 
ple, united  with  the  New  School  branch.  The  Old  School  side 
called  a  pastor  and  both  parties  used  the  same  houses  of  worship, 
occupying  them  on  alternate  days. 

The  details  of  the  history  of  this  period  belong  properly  to 
the  records  of  Mt.  Pleasant  church  and  will  be  given  in  its  history. 
Pleasant  Unity  Church  was  organized  in  1854  and  her  history 
properly  begins  from  that  date.  Previous  to  that  time  it  was,  as 
has  been  stated,  a  preaching  point  only,  within  the  boundaries  of 
Mt.  Pleasant  church.  Before  the  division  we  have  seen  that  Rev. 
A.  O.  Patterson  and  his  successor.  Rev.  Mr.  Montgomery,  preach- 
ed frequently  on  this  side.  The  Old  School  party  never  organ- 
ized a  church  in  Pleasant  Unity.  After  the  division  and  up  until 
the  reunion  in  1869  the  Old  and  New  School  pastors  of  Mt. 
Pleasant  church  preached  regularly  in  Pleasant  Unity,  using  the 
church  on  alternate  days.  It  will  only  be  necessary  to  name 
these  pastors  in  the  order  of  their  succession.  On  the  Old  School 
side  there  were  Revs.  Brownson,  McLean,  Barron  and  Barnett. 
The  New  School  pastors  of  Mt.  Pleasant  church  up  to  the  time 
of  the  organization  of  the  Pleasant  Unity  church,  were  Revs, 
Montgomery  and  Porter.  Rev.  Mr.  Porter's  successor  was  Rev. 
James  Cochran.  He  assisted  in  organizing  a  New  School  Pres- 
byterian Church  at  Pleasant  Unity  and  as  the  new  church  was 
attached  to  Mt.  Pleasant  church  under  one  pastor.  Rev.  James 
Cochran  thus  became  the  first  pastor  of  Pleasant  Unity  Presby- 
terian Church. 

The  following  is  the  first  record  of  the  '"Minutes  of  the  Pres- 
byterian Church  of  Pleasant  Unity:" 

PLEAS.A.NT  Unity,  March  25th,  1854. 

The  Rev.  S.  M.  Sparks  and  Rev.  James  Cochran,  a  committee 
appointed  by  the  Presbytery  of  Pittsburgh  to  organize  a  church 


150  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

in  Pleasant  Unity,  met  according  to  appointment  and  did  organ- 
ize a  Presbyterian  Church  according  to  the  form  laid  down  in  our 
standards.  After  the  organization,  Mr.  George  Chambers  and 
Mr.  James  Jamison  were  elected  and  installed  elders  of  the  church. 
Immediately  after  the  organization  Session  met  and  was  opened 
w^ith  prayer  by  Moderator.  Members  present.  Rev.  James  Coch- 
ran and  George  Chambers ;  absent,  Mr.  James  Jamison.  Mr. 
George  Love  and  Mrs.  Momeyer  appeared  before  Session  and, 
after  a  satisfactory  examination  as  to  their  Christian  experience 
and  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures,  they  were  received  as  members 
of  the  church.     Closed  with  prayer. 

Jaimes  Cochran,  Clerk. 

Unfortunately  a  number  of  pages  are  lost  out  of  the  first  Ses- 
sional Record  Book.  The  original  roll  of  members  at  the  time 
of  organization  cannot  be  found,  but  the  number  of  members  is 
supposed  to  have  been  about  one  hundred. 

Rev.  James  Cochran  continued  as  pastor  until  i860,  w^hen  he 
was  succeeded  by  Rev.  S.  M.  Sparks.  Mr.  Sparks  was  suc- 
ceeded in  1869  by  Rev.  Henry  Cooper,  who  was  Stated  Supply 
for  a  short  time.  Early  in  April  (probably  the  i  ith),  1870,  Rev. 
John  McMillan  entered  upon  his  labors  as  pastor  of  Mt.  Pleasant 
and  Pleasant  Unity  churches.  He  was  the  first  pastor  after  the 
reunion  of  the  Old  and  New  School  branches.  He  remained  but 
one  year.  In  April,  1871,  he  resigned  Pleasant  Unity  and  accept- 
ed a  call  for  his  entire  time  at  Mt.  Pleasant,  preaching,  however, 
each  Sabbath  evening  in  the  village  of  Mt.  Pleasant.  Pleasant 
Unity  was  thus  cut  off  from  the  mother  church  and  became  inde- 
pendent. 

In  June,  1871,  Rev.  Augustus  Cone  became  pastor  of  Pleas- 
ant Unity  church,  giving  it  his  whole  time.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  A.  F.  Boyd,  who  was  installed  June  26th,  1874.  During 
his  pastorate  a  good,  substantial  and  commodious  parsonage  was 
built,  directly  across  the  street  from  the  old  brick  church.  Mr. 
Boyd  resigned  in  the  Spring  of  1877  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Robert  White,  who  acted  as  Stated  Supply  until  the  winter  of 
'8o-'8i.  Rev.  A.  A.  Hough  was  installed  as  pastor  October  i  ith, 
1 88 1.     He  resigned  this  charge  in  the  fall   of  1886,  and  was  re- 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  I5I 

leased  by  Presbytery  on  the  28th  of  September,  1886.  Rev. 
Robert  F.  Smith,  the  present  pastor,  succeeded  Mr.  Hough  in  the 
spring  of  1887.  He  was  ordained  by  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone, 
May  26th,  1887,  and  installed  as  pastor  of  Pleasant  Unity  church 
on  the  nth  day  of  June,  1887. 

The  Session  at  the  organization  consisted  of  George  Chambers 
and  James  Jamison.  From  1854  to  1870  the  following  persons 
were  added:  James  McGuire,  Wm.  Sloan,  Ruling  Elders  in  Unity 
Presbyterian  Church,  were  received  on  certificate,  August  14th, 
1854,  and  at  the  same  time  elected  elders  of  Pleasant  Unity 
church.  Henry  Welty,  an  elder  in  Greensburg  Presbyterian 
Church,  was  elected  and  installed  in  Pleasant  Unity  church,  June 
15th,  1856;  Thomas  Latta  ordained  and  installed  in  the  year 
[862;  W.  L.  Chambers  in  the  year  1867;  since  1870,  Joseph 
Jamison,  formerly  an  elder  in  Mt.  Pleasant  church,  installed  at 
Pleasant  Unity,  March  5th,  1871 ;  Andrew  Giffen  and  S.  J.  Ham- 
ill,  M.  D.,  ordained  and  installed  September  9th,  1871  ;  William 
Giffen,  formerly  elder  at  Mt.  Pleasant  church,  installed  at 
Pleasant  Unity,  September  21st,  1878;  Henry  Bair,  ordained  and 
installed,  September  2 1st,  1878. 

George  Chambers,  one  of  the  two  original  elders,  was  dis- 
missed, January  7th,  1871,  to  unite  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Greensburg,  Pa.  Returning  again  to  Pleasant  Unity,  he  was 
received  by  letter  January  13th,  1878,  but  was  never  re-elected 
as  elder.  James  Jamison  carried  his  letter  to  Greensburg  and 
after  a  few  years  returned  to  Pleasant  Unity.  He  was  not  again 
elected  elder.  Thomas  Latta  died,  December  15th,  1865,  aged 
sixty-nine  years.  James  McGuire  died,  December  27th,  1865, 
aged  seventy-two  years.  Wm.  Sloan  died  a  number  of  years  ago  ; 
date  of  his  death  unknown.  Henry  Welty  died  at  Pleasant 
Unity  in  the  year  1859.  Henry  Bair  was  dismissed,  March  23d, 
1879,  to  unite  with  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Holton,  Kansas. 
Doctor  Hamill  was  dismissed  at  his  own  request,  to  unite  with 
some  other  Presbyterian  church;  now  dead;  date  of  death 
not  known.  The  Session  as  now  constituted,  consists  of  Rev. 
Robert  J.  Smith,  Moderator,  W.  L.  Chambers,  Joseph  Jamison, 


152  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

Andrew  Giffen  and  Wm.  Giffen.  (Mr.  Giffen  has  since  removed 
to  Ohio. 

The  old  brick  church  having  stood  the  storms  of  more  than 
fifty  winters  began  to  show  signs  of  decay  and  it  was  considered 
by  many  people  as  unsafe.  It  was  proposed  to  build  a  new 
church  across  the  street  and  in  1883  the  work  was  begun.  The 
new  house  of  worship  was  dedicated  in  the  fall  of  1884.  It  is  a 
handsome  building,  beautifully  located  and  Vk'ell  planned.  It  is 
brick,  one-story,  with  lecture  room  at  the  rear.  The  audience 
room  of  the  main  building  is  50x38,  and  has  a  seating  capacity 
of  325.  Seventy-five  more  can  be  accommodated  in  the  aisles  on 
chairs.  Windows,  lecture-room  also,  of  cathedral  glass;  floor 
covered  with  a  handsome  carpet.  The  lecture  room  is  45x18. 
The  entire  building  cost,  complete  about  ;^8,COO. 

The  total  memibership  of  Pleasant  Unity  Church  is  104. 
Besides  the  public  services  on  the  Sabbath,  there  are  Wednesday 
evening  prayer  meeting,  Sabbath  School,  Women's  Foreign  Mis- 
sionaiy  Society,  Young  People's  Home  Mission  Circle  and  a 
Band. 

The  Sabbath  School  has  enrolled  sixty-eight  members.  El- 
der W.  L.  Chambers,  is  Superintendent,  with  five  teachers. 

The  Women's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  has  fourteen 
members.  The  officers  are,  Mrs.  Agnes  Walters,  president;  Mrs. 
Dr.  J.  H.  Kelly,  vice-president;  Mrs.  W.  L.  Chambers,  recording 
secretary;  Mrs.  Preston  Chambers,  treasurer;  Mrs.  R.  F.  Smith, 
corresponding  secretary. 

The  Young  People's  Home  Mission  Circle  has  thirty  mem- 
bers." Mrs.  R.  F.  Smith,  president;  Mr.  F.  G.  Kelley,  vice-presi- 
dent;  Miss  Mattie  Giffen,  recording  secretary;  Miss  Belle  Gal- 
lagher, corresponding  secretary;  Mr.  Burk  Walter,  treasurer. 

Fifteen  children  are  enrolled  in  the  Band ;  name,  "Trusting 
Band."     It  is  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Wm.  Giffen. 

Here  ends  the  record  of  Pleasant  Unity  Church  to  the  pres- 
ent time.  The  Gospel  has  been  preached  here  in  this  communi- 
ty for  more  than  a  half  a  century.  The  history  is  a  ver)^  plain 
one,  but  much  good  has  been  done.  In  all  these  years  "a  great 
number  believed  and  turned  unto  the  Lord." 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  1 53 

MT.  VERNON. 


BY    REV.    C.    P.    CHEESEMAN. 

Mt.  Vernon  church  is  situate  about  one  mile  from  the  Yough- 
iogheny  river,  four  miles  from  McKeesport,  five  miles  from 
Round  Hill  and  eight  miles  from  Long  Run  Church.  In  this 
neighborhood  lived  a  goodly  number  of  Presbyterian  families, 
who  found  it  difficult  to  attend  church  at  any  of  the  established 
places  of  public  worship,  and  under  the  leadership  of  Col.  Wm. 
Douglass,  the  Presbyterian  element  of  this  section  united  in  a  pe- 
tition to  Presbyteiy  to  organize  a  new  church  to  be  known  as  the 
Mt.  Vernon  Presbyterian  Church.  This  petition  was  presented 
to  Presbytery,  at  a  meeting  held  at  McKeesport,  September  1 8th 
and  19th,  1866. 

Presbytery  entertained  the  proposition  and  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  look  over  the  field,  and  if  wise,  in  their  judgment,  to 
organize  a  church.  Accordingly,  the  committee,  consisting  of 
Rev.  O.  H.  Miller,  Rev.  Robt.  F.  Wilson  and  Elder  John  Mc- 
Kenery  met  on  the  28th  day  of  January,  1867,  and  organized  this 
church  with  a  membership  of  forty. 

The  church  began  its  work  under  very  favorable  circum- 
stances. The  outlook  from  that  standpoint  was  bright.  The 
people  interested  in  the  success  of  this  church  worked  in  har- 
mony. Indeed,  this  has  been  the  praiseworthy  characteristic  of 
this  church  from  the  beginning  of  its  history  to  the  present  time. 
The  necessity  of  erecting  a  church  building  was  urged  by  the 
friends  of  this  new  enterprise  and  was  pushed  rapidly  to  comple- 
tion, and  in  the  year  1868,  the  Mt.  Vernon  Church  was  dedi- 
cated, free  of  debt,  to  the  worship  of  the  one  only  living  and 
true  God. 

The  membership  at  present  is  about  eighty.  To  any  one 
unacquainted  with  the  facts,  it  may  seem  a  little  strange,  that  a 
church  with  as  good  prospects  in  the  beginning,  has  not  made 
more  progress  in  twenty  years.  But  when  we  remember  the 
changes  incident  to  twenty  years  and  particularly  of  this  com- 
munity, we  see  in  this  church  much  good  accomplished.  About 
this  time,  or  shortly  after  the  establishment  of  the   Mt.  Vernon 


154  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

Church,  a  number  of  Presbyterian  families  moved  into  the  bounds 
of  other  congregations,  and  as  is  often  the  case,  their  places  were 
not  taken  in  the  church  by  those  coming  into  the  neighborhood, 
and  in  the  early  history,  the  founder  of  the  church,  Mr.  Doug- 
lass, died.  So,  from  causes  over  which  man  has  not  control,  the 
little  church  was  weakened,  yet  it  kept  on  in  the  work  of  the 
Lord,  maintaining  public  worship  quite  regularly.  We  think  it 
worthy  of  mention,  that  for  almost  eighteen  years,  this  church 
was  unable  to  employ  a  pastor  and  could  not  be  united  with  any 
other  church,  trusting  entirely  to  supplies,  and  yet  kept  up  a  fair 
report  to  Presbytery  and  grew  a  little  in  real  strength. 

Rev.  A.  Bronson,  D.  D.,  supplied  this  church  for  several 
years.  We  have  not  a  list  of  those  who  at  different  times  preach- 
ed to  this  people.  Supplies  were  obtained,  for  the  greater  part, 
from  the  Seminary  in  Allegheny, 

Rev.  J.  D.  Shanks  was  supply  several  months;  also,  Rev. 
Mr.  Hair,  then  pastor  of  the  McKeesport  Presbyterian  Church. 

In  the  spring  of  i88i,  the  present  pastor,  C.  P.  Cheeseman, 
began  his  work  among  the  people  of  Mt.  Vernon,  and  as  Stated 
Supply,  preached  to  them  till  July,  1885,  when  he  was  in- 
stalled over  this  church  as  pastor,  and  thus,  under  one  pastorate, 
the  Mt.  Vernon  and  Long  Run  Churches  were  united. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  elders  of  the  church  who  have 
served  from  time  to  time  :  Messrs.  Wm.  Douglass,  Philip  Ho- 
dill,  Alex.  Rankin,  Jas.  Love,  Sam'l  C.  Rankin,  Matthew  Young, 
Jno.  M.  Shaner,  Samuel  Culbert,  Harvey  Thompson  and  David 
Rankin. 


FAIRCHANCE. 


BY    REV.    M.    C.    BAILEY,    PH.    D. 

Fairchance  was  a  preaching  point  for  Presbyterian  ministers 
for  thirty  years  before  a  church  was  organized.  History  does 
not  inform  us  just  when  Mr.  Fairchild  began  to  preach  here, 
making   it   an    out-post  of  the   Tent   congregation.     It  is  well 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  I  55 

known  that  he  preached  both  in  pubhc  and  private  houses  before 
a  church  building  was  erected. 

In  1845  ^  meeting-house  was  built,  chiefly  through  the  lib- 
erality of  Mr.  F.  H.  Oliphant,  an  elder  of  the  Tent  Church.  In 
the  absence  of  Mr.  Oliphant,  Col.  Jas.  Robinson  superintended 
the  entire  work.  Dr.  Fairchild  continued  to  preach  here  till  the 
event  of  his  death  in  June,  1864.  During  all  these  years  and  un- 
til the  organization  of  the  church,  Fairchance  was  treated  as  an 
outpost  of  the  Tent,  sharing  in  the  experiences  of  that  church. 
Its  pastors  and  supplies  were  the  pastors  and  supplies  of  this 
point. 

After  the  death  of  Dr.  Fairchild,  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Hench  be- 
came the  pastor  of  the  Tent,  being  installed,  November  6th, 
1866.  Another  fruit  of  Mr.  Oliphant's  liberality,  was  the  gift  of 
a  house  and  lot  to  Mr.  Hench,  for  a  parsonage.  This  property 
stands  midway  between  the  cross-roads,  on  the  way  commonly 
traveled  between  the  two  churches.  The  pastoral  relation  with 
Mr.  Hench  was  dissolved  in  April,  1869.  About  this  time  the 
Tent  was  supplied  one-half  of  the  time  by  Rev.  Wycoff. 

On  May  3d,  1 871,  an  organization  was  granted  to  Fairchance 
congregation.  It  was  organized  under  the  name  of  Fairchance 
Presbyterian  Church.  The  committee  appointed  by  Redstone 
Presbytery  for  this  purpose  were  the  Revs.  W,  W.  Ralston  and 
Joel  Stoneroad,  and  Elder  J.  K.  Ewing.  The  first  two  members 
of  the  committee  were  present.  The  church  was  organized  with 
eighteen  members,  the  most  of  whom  came  from  the  Tent.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  their  names  : 

F.  H.  Oliphant,  H.  Humphreys,  J.  P.  Carothers,  Mary  Dun- 
can, Mrs.  F.  H.  Oliphant,  Mrs.  H.  Humphreys,  Wm.  Mason, 
Mrs.  Mary  Mason,  Mrs.  Catharine  Core,  Mrs.  A.  L.  Osborne, 
Miss  Dessa  Woods,  Miss  Nannie  Woods,  Mrs.  John  Stirling, 
Wm.  Pastoris,  Mrs.  Mary  Pastoris,  Sallie  Pastoris,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Goldsboro  and  Julia  Pastoris. 

F.  H.  Oliphant,  H.  Humphreys  and  Wm.  Pastoris  were 
elected  and  installed  elders,  and  Mr.  Oliphant,  Esquire  Hum- 
phreys and  Mr.  J.  P.  Carothers  were  elected  trustees. 

For  some  time  the  church  was   served  by  supplies,  among 


156  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

whom  were  Revs.  Perkins,  Martin  and  others.  Dr.  Martin  was 
Stated  Supply  in  1873. 

In  December,  1874,  the  Rev.  D.  B.  Rogers  was  Stated  Sup- 
ply of  Tent  and  Fairchance  for  a  few  months.  In  April,  1875, 
he  became  the  pastor  of  these  churches;  in  1877,  Rev.  Dickey; 
in  1878,  Rev.  S.  S.  Bergen;  in  1881,  Rev.  C.  B.  Wakefield.  The 
pastorates  of  all  these  brethren  were  brief 

In  May,  1882,  the  Rev.  M.  C.  Bailey,  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
bytery of  Carlisle,  received  a  call  to  this  church,  in  connection 
with  the  churches  of  Tent  and  McClellandtown.  The  installa- 
tion services  were  held  in  October,  of  the  same  year,  but  Mr. 
Bailey  began  his  work  in  the  previous  June, 

In  the  beginning  of  the  year  1881,  a  remarkable  work  was 
begun  by  private  members  of  the  church,  which  resulted  in  the 
addition  of  about  seventy  persons  to  the  church.  Some  of  this 
number  are  valuable  and  faithful  members  of  the  church,  but  it  is 
a  sad  fact  that  three-fourths  of  them  have  either  become  wholly 
indifferent  or  dishonor  the  profession  they  once  made. 

September  20th,  1882,  J.  P.  Carothers,  Thomas  Hart,  Henry 
McEntire  and  John  Stirling  were  elected  elders. 

In  1 88 1,  a  few  ladies,  with  characteristic  energy,  formed  a 
Parsonage  Association  and  set  about  to  build.  A  lot  was  do- 
nated by  the  Fairchance  furnace  company  and  a  neat  and  com- 
fortable house  erected,  which,  in  a  very  short  time,  was  entirely 
free  from  debt,  owing  to  the  energy  and  perseverance  of  these  de- 
voted women.     The  cost  of  the  parsonage  was  ;^  1,300. 

This  field  must,  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  require  great  pa- 
tience. A  handful  of  faithful  and  enterprising  women  must  be 
relied  on  to  do  the  most  important  work  of  the  church. 

The  church  has  from  time  to  time  suffered  from  the  loss  of 
the  men  who  occasionally  rise  up  to  be  the  leaders  in  its  work.  It 
is  a  singular  fact,  that  in  the  midst  of  these  discouragements  and 
in  spite  of  them,  the  Lord  carries  on  his  work,  A  thriving  Sab- 
bath School  has  always  existed.  The  seed  has  been  sown.  It  is 
in  most  cases  hidden  from  our  view.  But  He,  who  declares  that 
no  word  shall  return  unto  Him  void,  watches  it  and  will  in  the 
end  use  it  for  His  glory. 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 57 


FAYETTE  CITY. 


Fayette  City  is  a  village  of  several  hundred  inhabitants,  sit- 
uated on  the  east  side  of  the  Monongahela  river.  This  church, 
which  takes  its  name  from  the  place,  is  one  of  our  newer  church- 
es, having  been  organized  in  1872.  The  idea  of  forming  a  church 
in  that  place,  originated  with  certain  members  of  the  Rehoboth 
Presbyterian  Church,  who  were  living  in  that  locality.  They 
were  prompted  to  take  this  step,  in  view  of  certain  overtures 
made  to  them  by  the  Little  Redstone  people,  to  join  them  in  one 
pastoral  charge.  There  were  difficulties  in  the  way ;  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church  there  belonged  to  Rehoboth,  and  the  building 
was  held  by  the  trustees  of  that  congregation.  These  hindrances, 
however,  were  quickly  and  generously  removed  by  the  Session 
of  the  Rehoboth  Church,  who,  without  waiting  to  be  asked,  held 
a  meeting  and  resolved  to  throw  no  obstructions  in  the  way  of 
the  proposed  organization,  beyond  the  giving  of  an  official  no- 
tice to  the  leaders  in  the  movement,  that  the  church  property  in 
Fayette  City,  belonged  to  Rehoboth. 

The  church  was  formally  organized  about  the  ist  of  Novem- 
ber, 1872,  and  Wm.  Bank,  M.  Sloterbeck  and  C,  V.  Powers,  were 
installed  as  elders.  Twenty-four  of  the  original  members  were 
received  by  letter  from  the  Rehoboth  Church. 

Rev.  R.  R.  Gailey,  who  was  at  that  time  pastor  of  Little 
Redstone,  was  immediately  installed  over  the  new  organization, 
his  time  to  be  divided  between  the  two  congregations.  After 
two  years,  Mr.  Gailey  resigned  his  charge  and  removed  to  an- 
other field  of  labor. 

He  was  followed  by  Rev.  C.  C.  B.  Duncan,  who  remained  in 
the  field  only  one  year. 

The  next  pastor  was  Rev.  J.  T.  Crumrine,  who  served  the 
church  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which,  he  removed  from  the 
Presbytery  and  took  charge  of  another  congregation. 

Inasmuch  as  the  Little  Redstone  Church,  to  which  we  natur- 
ally look  to  join  us  in  supporting  a  pastor,  has  not  felt  herself 
prepared,  since    the   removal  of  Mr.   Crumrine,  to  call  a  pastor. 


158  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

this  church  has  been  compelled  to  depend   on   such    supplies  as 
could  be  readily  procured. 

Revs.  P.  Baker,  Wm.  G.  Nevin  and  Dr.  S.  F.  Farmer  have 
supplied  us,  so  that  we  have  had  preaching,  on  an  average,  every 
two  weeks.  The  church  has  not  grown  much  since  its  organiza- 
tion, as  we  only  number  at  present  about  thirty  members,  but  if 
the  town  should  grow,  as  it  is  believed  it  will,  we  have,  at  least, 
the  nucleus  of  a  church,  and  are  prepared  to  accept  any  advan- 
tages which  may  be  offered  us. 


SCOTTDALE. 


Scottdale  is  a  beautiful  and  very  flourishing  town  on  the 
southern  border  of  Westmoreland  county.  It  is  one  of  the 
newer  towns  in  this  part  of  the  State,  having  grown  up  largely, 
as  a  result  of  the  wonderful  coke  and  iron  industries  by  which  it 
is  surrounded.  Already  it  is  one  of  the  leading  places  in  the 
county,  and  it  certainly  is  not  a  wild  prediction,  that  the  time  is 
not  far  distant,  when  it  will  be  the  leading  place.  Its  importance 
as  a  preaching  point  was  very  soon  observed  by  the  lamented 
Dr.  John  McMillan,  of  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Church,  who  supplied  the 
people  there  with  preaching  as  he  had  opportunity,  public  wor- 
ship being  held  in  the  school-house,  or  in  the  Reformed  Church, 
as  it  appeared  to  be  most  convenient.  It  was  not  long  until  the 
feeling  began  to  prevail  that  we  ought  to  have  an  organization 
here.  A  petition  was  prepared,  numerously  signed  and  forward- 
ed to  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone,  asking  that  the  matter  be 
taken  into  consideration  and,  if,  in  the  judgment  of  the  brethren, 
it  ought  to  be  done,  to  send  a  committee  and  effect  an  organiza- 
tion, at  as  early  a  day  as  possible.  The  Presbytery  granted  this 
petition  at  its  April  meeting  and  appointed   Revs.  John    McMil- 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  1 59 

Ian,  D.  D.,  and  T.  S.  Parke,  with  Ruling  Elder  Wm.  Giffin,  a 
committee,  to  carry  out  its  wishes  in  this  regard.  On  the  13th 
of  May,  1874,  the  committee  performed  their  work  and  Scott- 
dale  became  one  of  the  churches  of  Redstone  Presbytery. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization,  two  gentlemen  were  elected 
to  serve  as  Ruling  Eiders,  viz. :  Dr.  A.  J.  Rogers  and  Mr.  O.  B. 
Robertson ;  the  former  declining  to  serve,  Mr.  Robertson  was  or- 
dained and  installed. 

The  original  members  who  took  part  in  the  organization 
were,  Oliver  B.  Robertson,  Mary  A.  Robertson,  Pauline  Parker, 
John  Klingensmith,  Mary  Klingensmith,  Margaret  Klingensmith, 
Frances  Klingensmith,  J.  B.  Klingensmith,  Anna  E.  Klingen- 
smith, Henry  D.  Bole,  Catharine  Bole,  Sarah  E.  Ault,  Dr.  A.  J. 
Rogers  and  Margaret  Rogers. 

The  newly  formed  church  now  depended  upon  occasional 
supplies  for  the  pulpit  until  November,  1875,  when  Dr.  McMil- 
lan undertook  to  supply  them  statedly.  He  occupied  the  pulpit 
until  November  of  the  following  year,  giving  to  the  church  one- 
fourth  of  his  time. 

On  the  1st  of  November,  1876,  this  church,  for  the  first  time, 
enjoyed  the  services  of  a  regularly  installed  pastor.  Rev.  J.  H. 
Stevenson,  an  able  minister,  in  the  prime  of  life  and  usefulness, 
was  installed  over  the  united  churches  of  Tyrone  and  Scottdale, 
each  church  to  enjoy  one-half  of  his  time.  When  this  arrange- 
ment began,  Scottdale  was  the  weaker  church,  not  being  able  to 
raise  one-half  the  salary.  It  was  not  long,  however,  until  it  was 
the  heavier  supporter,  and  became  responsible  for  the  larger  part 
of  his  salary.  At  the  spring  meeting  of  Presbytery,  in  the  year 
1883,  Mr.  Stevenson  resigned  and  went  to  another  field  of  labor. 
His  services  had  been  greatly  blessed  to  the  church,  which  now 
felt  itself  to  be  fully  self-sustaining. 

On  the  3d  of  the  following  January,  Rev.  E.  S.  Robinson, 
pastor  of  the  Congruity  Church,  was  called.  He  served  the 
church  very  acceptably  for  a  period  of  two  years,  when  he  re- 
signed to  take  charge  of  a  larger  and  more  influential  church. 

After  a  vacancy  of  one  year.   Rev.  Z.  B.  Taylor  was  called 


l6o  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

and  installed,  assuming  his  pastoral  duties  in  April,  1887,  and 
continuing  on  up  to  the  present  writing. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  of  the  church  the  Rotary- 
System  was  adopted  in  the  election  of  the  eldership.  The  fol- 
lowing is  a  list  of  the  elders  who  hav^e  served,  viz. :  O.  B.  Rob- 
ertson, Dr.  A.  J.  Rogers,  John  G.  White,  Thomas  W.  McCune, 
John  S.  Loucks,  Thomas  W.  Ault.  Dr.  J.  C.  Farrar,  E.  L.  Robin- 
son, John  Robertson,  Jonathan  Merritt,  Frank  Ritchie  and  A.  B. 
Hosack. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of  the  church,  the  congregation 
began  to  feel  their  need  of  a  house  of  worship,  which  they  could 
call  their  own.  They  had  been  occupying  in  turn,  the  school- 
house,  the  Reformed  Church  and  the  Baptist  Church,  arrange- 
ments which  were  not  satisfactory  to  them. 

In  the  great  Centennial  year,  1876,  the  present  brick  struc- 
ture was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  ^4,500,  and  dedicated  on  the  22d  of 
April,  1887.  It  is  a  neat,  comfortable  house,  but  now  scarcely 
adequate  to  meet  the  wants  of  a  growing  congregation. 

In  the  fourteen  years  of  our  church  history,  she  has  grown 
from  fourteen,  to  a  membership  of  150. 

Our  statistical  report  for  the  year  ending,  April,  1888,  is  as 
follows,  viz.:  Elders,  five;  Deacons,  two  ;  added  on  Examina- 
tion, one;  added  on  Certificate,  ten;  Members,  150;  Infants  Bap- 
tized, six;  Adults  Baptized,  one;  Sabbath  School  Membership, 
100;  contributions  to  Home  Missions,  $17;  Foreign  Missions, 
$ig;  Education,  $8;  Sabbath  School  work,  ^35;  Church  Erec- 
tion, ^6;  Relief,  $45 ;  Freedmen,  55;  Sustentation,  $5;  Aid  for 
Colleges,  $11;  General  Assembly,  $iy;   Congregational,   $1,475. 


BELLE  VERNON.* 


BV    REV.    P.    BAKER. 

The  First  Presbyterian   Church   of  Belle  Vernon,   Pa.,  was 
organized,  December  nth,  1873,  by  a  committee  appointed  by 

*Copied  largely  from  a  history  of  Belle  Vernon  Presbyterian  Church,  by  Dr.  John  S.  Van- 
Voorhis,  Belle  Vernou,  Pa. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  l6l 

Redstone  Presbytery,  consisting  of  Rev.  G.  M.  Hair,  Rev.  R. 
Gailey  and  Elder  Alex.  Rankin.  Dr.  I  C.  Hazlett,  R.  J.  Linton 
and  S.  F.  Jones  were  elected  elders  ;  the  two  former  were  ordain- 
ed and  installed,  Mr.  Jones  being  at  that  time  installed  only,  hav- 
ing been  a  member  of  the  Session  of  Rehoboth  previously. 

The  following  persons  were  received  by  certificate  from  Re- 
hoboth Church,  viz.:  Mr.  D.  B.Johnston,  Mrs.  E.  S.  Van  Voor- 
his,  James  French,  Dr.  J.  S.  Van  Voorhis,  Sarah  Johnston,  L.  M. 
Speer,  Fannie  S.  Speer,  S.  F.  Jones,  S.  E.  Jones,  R.  J.  Linton,  C. 
S.  Linton,  Nancy  Smock,  Ellen  McFall,  Margaret  Garrison,  Har- 
riet Patterson,  Lizzie  V.  Cunningham,  I.  C.  Hazlett,  Samuel 
Clark,  Anna  Clark,  Maria  E.  Hughes,  Jennie  French,  W.  T. 
Speer,  Mary  P.  Speer,  W.  P.  Mackey,  Samuel  McKean,  Agnes 
McAlpin,  Mary  Smock,  Elizabeth  Lucas,  Nancy  Sheets,  Maggie 
McFall,  Jane  Hopkins,  Alvira  M.  Fromier,  Mary  S.  Cook,  Susan 
C.  Wise,  James  McAlpin,  Jennie  Jones,  Sarah  Barkman,  Philip 
Smock,  Olive  Barkman,  Laviena  Smock,  W.  McFall,  Robert  Mc- 
Fall and  Charlotte  Hammitt.  From  other  churches  :  W.  F.  Mor- 
gan and  wife,  and  Mary  C.  Aler — in  all  fifty-one. 

It  will  be  seen  from  the  above  that  the  original  membership 
very  largely  was  received  from  Rehoboth  congregation,  of  which 
church  this  one  had  previously  been  a  part. 

Belle  Vernon  had  been  a  preaching  station  for  some  years 
before  this  date  and  a  church  building  had  been  erected  in  1869. 
The  lot  was  presented  by  L.  M.  Speer.  The  cost  of  the  build- 
ing was  $2,000,  apart  from  the  spire,  which  Mr.  Speer  had  con- 
structed at  his  own  expense,  making  the  entire  building  worth 
$2,500.  Dr.  J.  S.  Van  Voorhis  was  chairman  of  the  building 
committee.  The  mason  work  was  done  by  Thomas  Haggerty. 
R.  C.  Schmertz  &  Co.  presented  the  glass  for  windows.  The 
funds  for  furnishing  the  church,  amounting  to  $297.70,  were 
raised  by  Mary  Speer,  Lizzie  Van  Voorhis,  Mrs.  Margaret  Kyle 
and  Mattie  Miller.  The  bell  was  purchased  out  of  the  building 
fund.  The  clock  was  presented  by  Mrs.  Wm.  Scott.  The 
church  was  dedicated,  free  of  debt,  December  19th,  1869,  ser- 
vices being  conducted  by  Rev.  L.  Y.  Graham,  pastor,  and  Rev. 
G.  M.  Hair. 


1 62  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

Rev.  G.  M.  Hair,  who  was  pastor  of  Rehoboth  Church  when 
this  church  was  organized,  continued  to  preach  for  the  new  con- 
gregation as  he  had  done  before  its  separation  from  the  old  con- 
gregation, until  June,  1874,  when  he  resigned  his  charge.  Belle 
Vernon  Church  determined  then  to  call  a  pastor  of  its  own. 

Rev.  A.  B.  Lowes  received  a  unanimous  call  soon  after  this 
date.  He  was  installed,  October  28th,  1874,  by  a  committee  of 
Presbytery,  consisting  of  Revs.  J.  P.  Fulton,  J.  M.  Barnett  and 
Marcus  Wishart.  He  continued  to  be  pastor  of  this  church  un- 
til September,  1882,  when  he  was  released  at  his  own  request. 
Under  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Mr.  Lowes,  the  church  enjoyed  a 
good  degree  of  prosperity,  sixty-four  new  members  being  added 
to  the  original  number.  Especially  did  he  succeed  in  effecting  a 
thorough  organization  for  church  work,  which  continues  to  this 
day,  and  also  in  developing  a  spirit  of  benevolence,  for  which 
this  church  became  noted.  There  were  discouragements,  how- 
ever, which  arose  from  a  financial  crash  in  the  village,  resulting 
in  the  removal  of  a  number  of  the  best  supporters  of  the  con- 
gregation. Besides  being  a  faithful  pastor,  Mr.  Lov>'es  was  a 
most  earnest  advocate  of  temperance  and  took  a  most  active  and 
courageous  part  in  efforts  to  abate  this  evil. 

The  congregation,  after  the  release  of  Mr.  Lowes,  were  sup- 
plied until  January  loth,  of  the  following  year,  1883,  when  Rev. 
P.  Baker  was  unanimously  called  to  the  charge  and  was  installed, 
May  3d,  1883,  and  still  continues  to  be  pastor  up  to  this  date, 
during  which  time  sixty-three  additions  have  been  made  to  the 
church,  principally  on  examination.  Rev.  P.  Baker  was  born  at 
Independence,  Pa.,  October  3d,  1847;  ^^^s  received  into  the 
church  under  the  ministry  of  Rev.  John  Stockton,  at  Cross  Creek, 
Pa.;  graduated  at  Princeton  College,  1872,  and  at  the  Western 
Theological  Seminary,  Allegheny,  1875.  He  was  called  while 
in  his  senior  year  at  the  Seminary  to  be  pastor  of  the  charge  of 
Boiling  Spring,  Crooked  Creek  and  Appleby  Manor  Churches 
in  Kittanning  Presbytery;  was  released  from  Boiling  Spring, 
June,  1878,  that  he  might  accept  a  call  from  the  other  two 
churches  for  full  time,  with  which  churches  he  remained  until 
called  to  Belle  Vernon. 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 63 

The  only  changes  in  the  Session  up  to  this  date  (1887)  are 
the  following,  viz.:  In  December,  1881,  Wm.  F.  Morgan  was 
added  to  it  and  in  1886,  Dr.  I.  C.  Hazlett  was  released,  to  unite 
with  the  church  at  Uniontown,  whither  he  had  removed. 

The  church  building  has  been  preserved  in  good  repair  by 
a  vigilant  Board  of  Trustees,  consisting  at  the  present  of  W.  P. 
Mackey,  J.  E.  Null,  S.  M.  Graham.  L.  R.  Boyle  and  Sam'l  Mc- 
Kean. 

In  June,  of  this  year,  the  spire  was  badly  damaged  by  light- 
ning.    It  was  removed  and  a  suitable  cupola  erected   in  its  stead. 

These  are  the  principal  items  of  our  church  hi.story.  Here 
may  the  Gospel  be  preached  as  long  as  the  sun  and  moon  endure! 


MT.  PLEASANT  REUNION. 


BY  REV.  S.  E.  ELLIOTT. 

The  Reunion  Presbyterian  Church  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  Pa.,  is 
the  offspring  of  the  Mt.  Pleasant  (commonly  called  Middle)  Pres- 
byterian Church.  It  was  organized  by  the  Presbytery  of  Red- 
stone, then  in  session  in  the  town  of  Mt.  Pleasant,  April  25th, 
1873,  at  the  request  of  one  hundred  and  seven  persons,  all  mem- 
bers of  the  church  of  Mt.  Pleasant. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization  a  new  church  edifice,  valued 
at  ;^2i,ooo,  already  existed.  While  this  church  was  built  by  the 
Mt.  Plea.sant  congregation,  nearly  all  the  subscriptions  came  from 
those  who  joined  the  new  organization.  Both  congregations  re- 
mained in  one  charge,  under  the  pastorate  of  Dr.  John  McMillan, 
until  October  1st,  1873.  After  this  date.  Dr.  McMillan  gave  the 
whole  of  his  time  to  the  Reunion  Church  at  a  salary  of  $1,500 — 
the  amount  which  he  had  received  from  both  congregations. 
The  pastoral  relationship  of  Dr.  McMillan  continued  until  Janu- 
ary 14th,  1879. 


164  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

At  the  time  of  the  organization,  Messrs.  William  Borland 
Neel,  William  Giffen  and  John  Dickie  McCaleb  were  installed  as 
elders,  and  Alexander  Hamilton  Strickler  and  Absalom  Schali 
as  deacons.  Having  served  in  the  same  offices  in  the  Middle 
Church,  they  were  not  ordained. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  elders  and  deacons  from  the 
time  of  the  organization  to  the  present: 

ELDERS. 

William  Borland  Neel,  April  25th,  1873;  William  Giffen, 
April  25th,  1873,  to  April  ist,  1885  ;  John  Dickie  McCaleb,  April 
25th,  1873;  Jas.  Shields,'  April  9th,  1875,  to  July  31st,  1876; 
Alex.  H.  Strickler,  April  9th,  1875,  to  January  23d,  1887;  John 
Calvin  Hunter,  M.  D.,  October  1st,  1875,  to  June  8th,  1876;  John 
Cunningham,  October  1st,  1875,  to  April  14th,  1877;  Albert 
Shupe,  December  23d,  1877,  to  April  3d,  1880;  David  Wilson 
Schryock,  December  8th,  1878,  to  July  3d,  1880;  John  Andrew 
Stevenson,  December  8th,  1878;  Florence  Labanah  Marsh,  M.  D., 
January  23d,  1887;  Jacob  Smith  Lobengier,  January  23d,  1887; 
Jesse  Hunter,  January  23d,  1887. 

DEACONS. 

Alex.  H.  Strickler,  April  25th,  1873,  to  April  9th,  1875; 
Absalom  Schali,  April  25th,  1873,  to  February,  1874. 

The  rotary  system  of  eldership  was  adopted  September  25th, 
1885,  and  abandoned  January,  1887.  The  office  of  deacon  was 
abandoned  after  a  short  period.  An  effort  was  afterwards  made 
to  return  to  it,  but  the  effort  was  not  successful. 

The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  was  organized 
April  1st,  1874.  Up  to  that  time  the  ladies  of  both  congregations 
worked  in  one  organization.  This  society  has  contributed  since 
its  organization,  ^1,142.78,  or  about  $gs  a  year.  Of  this  amount 
$206.85  has  been  contributed  by  the  children's  band,  now  called 
the  Layah  Band.  This  band  works  under  the  direction  of  the 
Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

The  congregation   received   a   charter,  February  iith,  1874. 

The  church  property  was  threatened  by  fire,  May  29th,  1876. 
It  was  saved  by  a  sudden   change  in  the   direction  of  the  wind. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  1 65 

The  deliverance  was  regarded  by  the  congregation  as  providen- 
tial. The  congregational  records,  however,  being  in  the  house 
of  Mr.  John  D.  McCaleb,  were  destroyed. 

In  January,  1879,  ^^^  trustees  reported  that  a  debt  of  ^2,200 
which  had  existed  for  a  considerable  time,  had  been  provided  for. 

The  pastoral  relationship  of  Dr.  McMillan  was  dissolved, 
Januar}'  14th,  1879.  He  was  called  again  by  this  congregation 
in  October  following,  but  did  not  accept.  Dr.  McMillan  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  S.  L.  Finney,  who  was  called,  Februaiy  23d, 
1880,  at  a  salary  of  ,$1,200,  and  remained  until  October  3d,  1882. 
During  his  pastorate  the  present  parsonage,  valued  at  ^5,000, 
was  built.  The  congregation  was  without  a  regular  pastor  from 
October  3d,  1882,  until  July  2d,  1883.  Rev.  John  M.  Jenkins 
was  called,  July  2d,  1883,  at  a  salary  of  $1,000  and  free  use  of 
the  parsonage.     He  remained  until  April,  1885. 

The  McMillan  Home  Missionary  Society  was  organized  in 
April,  1884.  This  society  took  its  name  from  a  former  pastor  of 
the  church.  This  society  has  only  given  about  thirty  dollars  a 
year  thus  far  to  the  cause  of  Home  Missions.  Their  efforts  have 
been  directed  chiefly  towards  liquidating  a  church  debt.  In  or- 
dinary circumstances  this  course  would  not  be  justifiable,  but  the 
present  case  seems  to  be  an  exception. 

Mr.  Jenkins  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Samuel  E.  Elliott,  the 
present  pastor.  Rev.  S.  E.  Elliott  was  called  in  January,  1886; 
salary  $900  and  free  parsonage.  The  congregation  had  been 
without  a  pastor  for  about  eight  months. 

In  January,  1887,  the  trustees  reported  that  the  debt  of 
$6,000  had  been  provided  for.  This  debt  had  been  contracted  in 
building  the  parsonage. 

A  Sunday-school  has  been  kept  up  in  this  church  ever  since 
its  organization.  The  average  attendance  now  is  about  seventy- 
five.  The  average  attendance  from  the  beginning"  of  the  organi- 
zation has  varied  from  seventy-five  to  one  hundred.  Our  teach- 
ers and  officers  are  well  equipped  and  do  faithful  work. 

I  add  a  copy  of  the  annual  statistical  reports.  In  this  may 
be  seen  the  work  and  the  progress  of  the  congregation  from  the 
beginning. 


1 66 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 


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Joseph    Paull. 

Se<-  Appendix. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  1 6/ 


DUNBAR. 


BY    ELDER    THOMAS    W.    WATT. 

Wednesday,  April  29th,  1874. 
The  Presbyterian  Church  of  Dunbar  was  organized   on  the 
presentation  to  Presbj'tery  of  the  following  petition  by  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Connellsville,  Pa.,  residing   in  and 
about  Dunbar. 

To  the  Rev^erend  Moderator  and  Members  of  the   Presbytery  of 

Redstone  : 

Dear  Brethren — At  a  meeting  of  the  Session  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church  of  Connellsville,  held,  April  6th,  1874,  the  fol- 
lowing paper  was  unanimously  adopted : 

Inasmuch  as  the  members  of  the  Connellsville  Church,  re- 
siding in  and  about  Dunbar,  are  cut  off  from  attending  church  at 
Connellsville,  and  the  growth  of  the  population  of  Dunbar  de- 
mands an  increase  of  the  ordinances. 

Resolved — That  we  recommend  to  the  members  of  this 
church  in  and  about  Dunbar,  to  apply  to  Presbytery  at  its  next 
meeting  to  organize  them  into  a  separate  church,  with  the  officers 
residing  in  their  midst,  to  be  known  as  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Dunbar. 

Believing  that  the  time  has  come  for  such  an  organization 
and  that  we  are  following  the  leadings  of  Divine  Providence,  we, 
whose  names  follow,  ask  to  beset  off  as  the  church  above  named, 
and  that  Joseph  Paul,  John  Taylor,  James  L.  Paul  and  Thomas 
W.  Watt  be  the  elders  of  the  new  organization,  according  to  the 
above  resolution. 

John  Taylor.  Thos.  W.  Watt. 

Mary  E.  McDowell.  Sarah  Watt. 

Ray  Taylor.  Jennie  W^att. 

John  M.  Taylor.  Lavinia  W^att. 

Margaret  S.  Byers.  John  Herron. 

James  Henderson.  May  Herron. 

Geo.  W.  Porter.  Ella  Herron. 


i68 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 


Rebecca  Speers. 
M.  Ella  Speers. 
Maria  L.  Byers. 
M.  Elizabeth  Byers. 
Jas.  L.  Paull. 
Joseph  Paull. 
Jos.  R.  Paull. 
Sarah  A.  Williams. 
David  Williams,  Jr. 
Rosy  Bird. 
Jas.  W.  Matthews. 
Eleanor  Reiner. 
Sarah  Reiner. 
Mrs.  John  Taylor. 
Jennie  Taylor. 
Isaac  Taylor. 
John  H.  Byers. 
Sarah  Humbert. 
James  Thompson. 
Martha  S.  Porter. 
Sarah  J.  Speers. 
David  A.  Byers. 
Sue  B.  Byers. 
Jas.  T.  Shepler. 
Lizzie  A.  Paull. 
Mrs.  Lizzie  L.  Paull. 
Mrs.  David  Williams. 
M.  J.  Williams. 
Mary  Bird. 
Jane  Miller. 
Jacob  Reiner. 
May  Reiner. 
Samuel  Work. 
Jane  W.  Work. 
Martha  Watkin. 


Robert  Rankin. 
Alex.  Porter. 
Sarah  M.  Porter. 
M.  A.  Porter 
May  J.  Porter. 
Maggie  M.  Porter. 
David  Harper. 
Sarah  A.  Harper. 
May  A.  Harper. 
J.  R.  McDowell. 
Sarah  A.  McDowell. 
May  C.  Piles. 
Mary  A.  Walker. 
May  M.  Stauffer. 
William  Bov/den. 
Margaret  Bowden. 
Mary  Gilpin. 
Jennie  Gilpin. 
Eliza  Porter. 
Sarah  Wills. 
Eliza  J.  Duncan. 
May  E.  McDowell. 
Thos.  Reiner. 
John  W.  Fairchild. 
William  Boal. 
Alex.  Wishart. 
Mrs.  A.  Wishart. 
Alex.  McConnell. 
Jane  McConnell. 
Isabella  Scott. 
Margaret  Russell. 
M.  Emily  McDowell. 
J.  V.  Stauffer. 
Sadie  Harmon. 
Jas.  A.  Fairchild. 
Amzi  D.  Harmon. 


After  hearing  the  commissioner,  James  L.  Paull,  and  some 
remarks  by  the  Presbytery,  the  request  was  granted,  the  name 
of  Dunbar  Church  was  enrolled,  and  Joseph  Paull,  elder  from 
Dunbar,  was  admitted  to  a  seat  in  Presbytery. 

At  the  time  of  the  completion  of  the  Fayette  county  rail- 
road, there  were  only  three  Presbyterian  families  in  Dunbar,  viz. : 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 69 

Joseph  Paull,  James  R.  McDowell  and  Thomas  W.  Watt.  They 
were  all  members  of  the  church  in  Connellsville.  After  a  time 
they  applied  to  the  Railroad  Company  for  the  privilege  of  run- 
ning a  hand  car  on  Sabbath.  This  was  granted  and  proved  to  be 
a  very  convenient  way  of  getting  to  chnrch.  This  was  kept  up 
until  March,  1870. 

During  the  winter  of  1869— '70,  God's  Spirit  was  so  abun- 
dantly poured  out,  at  a  meeting  held  in  a  school-house  in  Dun- 
bar, that  more  than  forty  were  added  to  the  church.  This  addi- 
tion made  it  necessary  to  have  a  church  train,  which  was  started, 
March,  1870,  the  people  agreeing  to  pay  the  company  $7.50  per 
day.  This  agreement  was  continued  until  the  summer  of  1873, 
when  full  fare  was  demanded.  The  people  refused  to  pay  this 
amount  and  accordingly  in  September,  1873,  the  train  was  dis- 
continued. 

About  this  time  steps  were  taken  to  erect  a  new  church 
at  Dunbar.  Funds  were  secured  and  a  frame  building  45x60 
feet  and  costing  $5,500,  was  erected  and  dedicated  to  the  Lord, 
on  the  9th  of  November,  1 874. 

From  September,  1873,  until  the  following  June,  the  Rev. 
John  M.  Barnett,  at  that  time  pastor  of  the  Connellsville  Church, 
preached  for  us  every  Sabbath  afternoon  at  three  o'clock.  After 
that  time  the  congregation  depended  upon  supplies. 

The  Rev.  G.  M.  Potter,  who  had  preached  for  us  a  number 
of  times  to  our  entire  satisfaction,  was  called,  but  after  giving  the 
cgngregation  to  understand  that  he  would  accept,  for  reasons 
best  known  to  himself,  declined  to  come. 

Soon  after  this,  the  congregation  made  out  a  call  for  Rev.  R. 
T.  Price,  which  he  accepted,  moved  in  among  us  and  began  his 
labors  on  the  first  Sabbath  of  December,  1874.  Mr.  Price  un- 
dertook the  pastoral  oversight  of  the  congregation  under  the 
most  favorable  circumstances,  and  the  organization  and  church 
building  were  new.  The  membership,  eighty-four  in  number, 
were  wide  awake  to  the  interest  of  the  church.     This  proved  to 


170  PRESBYTERY  OF  REDSTONE. 

be  a  happy  relation,  pastor  and  people  working  together  in  per- 
fect harmony.  Before  the  spring  meeting  of  Presbytery,  twenty- 
four  new  members  were  added  to  our  church,  increasing  our  roll 
of  members  to  109.  The  Sabbath  School  also  seemed  to  take 
on  new  life  at  this  time.  Before  the  organization  of  the  church 
it  was  conducted  as  a  union  school,  but  from  this  time  on  it  was 
strictly  Presbyterian.  At  the  spring  meeting  of  Presbytery  it  re- 
ported 150  members. 

The  church  enjoyed  a  steady  and  vigorous  growth  all 
through  the  following  year.  Forty  were  added  to  our  member- 
ship, thirty-one  on  examination  and  nine  by  letter,  increasing  our 
roll  to  139.  During  this  time,  however,  we  met  with  our  first 
discouragement.  Ten  persons  had  disappeared  from  among  us, 
either  by  death  or  removal,  and  our  Sabbath  School  had  fallen 
off  from  150  to  100  members.  The  next  year,  1876—77,  the 
church  held  her  own,  with  the  slight  increase  of  six  members, 
contributing  ;^ioo  to  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  and  erecting 
a  parsonage  costing  ;^2,400.  There  was  nothing  worthy  of  note 
the  following  year. 

In  our  narrative,  sent  to  the  Presbytery,  the  pastor  says : 
"The  attendance  is  good,  and  the  attention  paid  to  the  Gospel,  as 
it  has  been  preached,  very  good."  At  this  time  there  seemed  to 
be  a  general  awakening  of  the  people.  Many  prayers  were 
offered  for  the  outpouring  of  the  Spirit  and  a  closer  walk  with 
God.  The  year  i88o-'8i,  was  marked  by  few  conv^ersions,  but 
there  was  a  deep  interest  taken  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  and 
it  is  believed  much  good  was  done  in  this  direction.  We  lost  a 
number  of  members  this  year,  some  by  removal  and  many  by 
death ;  indeed,  our  losses  by  death  were  greater  than  at  any  other 
time  in  our  history.  During  the  two  remaining  years  of  Mr. 
Price's  pastorate,  the  church  enjoyed  a  slow  but  steady  growth. 
Progress  was  made  in  the  cause  of  temperance,  and  largely 
through  the  efforts  of  the  church,  saloons  were  banished  from 
our  village.  In  June,  1883,  Mr.  Price  resigned  and  moved  to 
another  field  of  labor.  This  closed  the  first  pastorate  of  the 
Dunbar  Church.  Mr.  Price  was  with  us  eight  years  and  six 
months.     In  this  time  we  received  155   new  members ;  lost  by 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  I7I 

death  and  removal,  eighty-five  ;  leaving  us  a  membership  of  147. 
Mr.  Price  left  with  the  general  good  will  of  the  entire  congrega- 
tion and  community. 

The  church  was  now  without  a  pastor  for  a  period  of  six 
months,  but  we  were  at  no  time  without  public  worship.  When 
we  failed  to  secure  a  supply,  some  member  of  the  Session  or  con- 
gregation led  in  a  brief  service. 

In  December,  1883,  a  unanimous  call  was  extended  to  Rev. 
D.  B.  Rogers.  He  accepted  and  began  his  labors  at  once.  The 
following  winter  we  gained  a  few  members  by  profession  and  lost 
a  number  by  removals,  so  that  we  did  but  little  more  than  hold 
our  own.  The  second  year  of  Mr.  Rogers'  pastorate  the  church 
was  blessed  by  a  gracious  outpouring  of  the  Spirit.  Twenty-two 
were  added  on  examination  and  six  by  letter.  While  Mr.  Rogers 
was  with  us  the  growth  of  the  church  was  slow  but  steady. 
There  was  a  marked  improvement  in  the  Sabbath  School,  which 
numbered  240,  with  little  variation  during  the  entire  period.  In 
July,  1886,  Mr,  Rogers  was,  at  his  own  request,  released  by  the 
Presbytery,  to  enter  another  field  of  labor.  We  had  received 
during  his  pastorate  fifty-two  new  members,  but  on  account  of 
deaths  and  removals  we  were  able  to  report  only  a  membership  of 
151.  The  relation  was  dissolved  at  a  called  meeting  of  Presby- 
tery and  the  church  left  again  without  a  pastor. 

A  vacancy  of  six  months  brought  to  us  many  supplies  and 
numerous  candidates. 

The  Rev.  R.  R.  Marquis  supplied  the  pulpit  for  three 
months  with  a  view  to  the  pastorate,  but  on  account  of  ill  health 
he  was  compelled  to  give  up  preaching,  to  the  great  regret  of  the 
entire  church.  People  outside  the  church  had  formed  quite  an  at- 
tachment for  him  and  his  family  and  expressed  themselves  as 
very  sorrowful  that  he  could  not  remain  with  us. 

The  Session  next  invited  the  Rev.  W.  G.  Stewart,  of  Roches- 
ter, Pa.,  to  supply  us  for  a  Sabbath  or  two.  The  people  were 
greatly  pleased  by  him.  A  most  hearty  and  entirely  unanimous 
call  was  made  out  and  by  him  accepted.  He  entered  his  new 
field  of  labor,  September  ist,  1887,  and  to-day,  we  are  a  happy 
and  contented  people. 


172  PRESBYTERY  OF  REDSTONE. 


DAWSON. 


BY  REV.  JOSEPH    L.    HUNTER. 

This  church  was  first  organized  on  the  3d  of  July,  1874. 
The  membership  at  that  time  was  twenty-four,  all  of  whom  had 
come  by  letter  from  the  Church  of  Tyrone. 

The  original  elders  were,  Solomon  Baker,  Wm.  Lint  and 
Jonathan  Merritt. 

Rev.  Thos.  S.  Parke  was  the  first  pastor,  but  after  serving 
the  church  for  less  than  one  year,  he  left  on  the  28th  of  May, 
1875. 

xA.bout  the  same  time  Elder  Baker  removed  to  Tyrone  and 
soon  after,  T.  R.  DeYarman  was  elected  to  fill  his  place. 

On  the  22d  of  June,  1877,  a  call  was  made  out  for  the  Rev. 
J.  H.  Stevenson,  then  pastor  of  Tyrone,  the  congregation  asking 
only  a  part  of  his  time.  Mr.  Stevenson  accepted  and  after  serv- 
ing the  church  for  a  time,  the  organization  was  dissolved  and  the 
members  dismissed  to  Tyrone.  This  action  of  Presbytery,  as  it 
seems  to  us  now,  was  a  mistake.  Some  judicious  efforts  in  its 
behalf,  might  have  made  the  Church  of  Dawson,  if  not  self-sus- 
taining, at  least  partially  so.  The  church  has  always  had  the 
support  of  the  best  and  most  influential  citizens,  and  we  believe 
it  will,  in  time,  become  a  great  power  in  this  community. 

On  the  28th  of  October,  1884,  the  church  was  reorganized, 
with  twenty  members.  Mr.  John  K.  McDonald  was  ordained  as 
Ruling  Elder  and,  with  T.  R.  DeYarman,  installed. 

From  June,  1885,  to  May,  1888,  Rev.  N.  G.  White,  acted  as 
Stated  Supply. 

Rev.  Joseph  L.  Hunter  was  installed  pastor  in  May,  1888. 
Soon  after  Mr.  Hunter  became  pastor.  Dr.  Wm.  A.  Shoema- 
ker was  ordained  and  installed  in  the  eldership. 

The  Session,  at  present,  are  Rev.  Jos.  L.  Hunter,  Moderator, 
with  Elders  J.  K.  McDonald  and  Dr.  Wm.  A.  Shoemaker.  The 
church  has  had  six  elders.  We  have  now  a  membership  of  twen- 
ty-one. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE,  1 73 


LEISENRING. 


BY    REV.    H.    C.    MORLEDGE. 

In  the  autumn  of  1881,  the  Connellsville  Coke  and  Iron 
Company  began  manufacturing  coke  at  this  place.  This  brought 
in  a  class  of  miners  and  laborers  who,  as  a  rule,  had  but  little  in- 
terest in  the  Gospel  of  Jesus  Christ.  A  few  devout  Christians 
among  the  official  members  of  the  company,  saw  the  importance 
of  immediate  active  Christian  work  for  the  benefit  of  these 
classes. 

In  December,  of  the  same  year,  they  organized  a  Sabbath 
School  in  the  school-house  just  then  completed.  They  also 
made  application  to  the  company  for  means  to  carry  on  Christian 
work,  and  received  in  turn  a  monthly  appropriation,  to  which 
they  added  a  sufficient  amount  to  put  the  Sabbath  School  on  a 
good  working  basis,  and  hold  one  preaching  service  every  Sab- 
bath. For  a  time  they  had  the  ministers  of  various  denomina- 
tions in  this  vicinity  to  preach  for  them.  This  plan,  not  proving 
practicable,  they  made  application  to  the  Seminary  for  a  young 
man  to  take  charge  of  the  work. 

In  December,  1883,  Rev.  A.  J.  Herries,  then  in  his  senior 
year  at  the  Seminary,  took  charge  of  the  work.  Prior  to  this 
time,  a  Sabbath  School  had  been  organized  at  Shaft  No.  2,  known 
as  West  Leisenring,  and  preaching  services  were  also  held  at  that 
point;  so,  when  Mr.  Herries  began  his  work,  he  found  at  the  two 
points  a  population  of  near  3,000  souls.  He  continued  to  sup- 
ply them  with  preaching  with  the  help  of  other  young  men  from 
the  Seminary,  until  his  graduation,  April,  1884.  He  then  settled 
among  the  people  and  continued  the  work  as  a  missionary  on  a 
mission-field,  without  any  church  organization,  up  till  the  follow- 
ing winter. 

At  a  called  meeting  of  Redstone  Presbytery,  held  in  the 
school-house  at  this  place,  January  20th,  1885,  the  church  was 
formally   organized    to   be   known  as  "Leisenring  Presbyterian 


174  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

Church,"  the  charter  membership  numbering  fifteen,  and  elders 
two — Jno.  A.  Esser  and  Jas.  Eaton. 

Rev.  A.  J.  Herries  was  then  duly  appointed  by  the  Presby- 
tery as  Stated  Supply  of  the  church  till  the  next  regular  meeting. 
In  May,  1885,  Mr.  Herries  was  installed  pastor  of  the  church, 
and  in  September  of  the  same  year,  Presbytery,  at  his  own  re- 
quest, dissolved  the  relationship. 

The  church  again  received  supplies  from  the  Seminary  till 
the  following  spring,  when  Rev.  H.  C.  Morledge  was  called  to 
the  pastorate.  He  accepted,  was  installed  and  began  his  work 
as  pastor  in  June,  1886. 

The  church  has  gradually  increased  in  membership  since  its 
organization  till  the  present.  It  now  numbers  seventy-nine. 
Last  winter  the  subject  of  church  edifices  was  agitated.  Two 
plans  were  selected,  subscriptions  solicited,  and  the  work  on  two 
churches  costing,  in  toto,  ^8,000,  begun.  One  of  these  is  now 
completed  and  will  be  dedicated  in  a  few  weeks.  The  other  will 
be  dedicated,  we  hope,  by  next  Christmas  (1888.) 


WOMAN'S   FOREIGN    MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY. 


BY  MRS.  ANNA  M.  BAILIE. 

Of  the  pioneer  Woman's  Missionary  Societies  in  our  midst, 
Connellsville,  Mt.  Pleasant,  New  Providence  and  Pleasant  Unity 
date  their  beginning  in  1872.  Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion  and  New 
Salem  were  reorganized  in  1874.  In  February,  1875,  Miss  S. 
Loring,  formerly  of  Syria,  then  employed  by  the  Woman's  For- 
eign Missionary  Society  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  to  travel 
among  the  churches,  visited  our  Presbytery,  and  the  societies  of 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  1/5 

Brownsville,  Dunbar,  McKeesport  and  Uniontown  were  formed 
at  that  time.  In  pursuance  of  calls  given  by  the  parent  society 
and  many  of  our  pastors,  a  meeting  of  ladies  was  held  in  connec- 
tion with  the  meeting  of  Redstone  Presbytery,  June  15th,  1875, 
at  Connellsville,  and  the  Woman's  Missionary  Society  was  then 
and  there  organized.  Of  this  meeting  Mrs.  J.  M.  Barnett,  of 
Connellsville,  was  chairman;  Mrs.  J.  Cunningham,  of  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, secretary.  The  officers  of  the  society  then  chosen  were, 
president,  Mrs.  John  McMillan,  of  Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion;  record- 
ing secretary,  Miss  M.  B.  Campbell,  of  Uniontown ;  correspond- 
ing secretary,  Miss  L.  G.  Neel,  Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion;  treasurer. 
Miss  Lizzie  Taylor,  of  Connellsville.  The  parent  society  was 
represented  by  Mrs.  S.  M.  Henderson,  of  Wilkinsburg,  who  was 
very  a6live  in  giving  every  assistance  and  encouragement  in  her 
power.  In  the  evening  Presbytery  held  a  special  joint  session 
with  the  ladies,  devoted  to  the  interest  of  Foreign  Missions,  and 
the  custom  was  kept  up  during  the  time  in  which  the  meetings 
were  held,  at  the  same  time  and  place.  Two  more  meetings  were 
held  in  this  year  for  the  purpose  of  perfecting  the  organization 
and  laying  out  definite  plans  of  work:  one  of  these  on  July  i6th 
at  Uniontown,  the  other,  October  6th,  at  the  Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion 
Church,  Presbytery  being  assembled  at  the  same  time  in  Mt. 
Pleasant  church.  At  the  July  meeting  each  society  was  assigned 
some  two  or  three  neighboring  churches  in  which  they  were  to 
endeavor  to  secure  organizations.  In  some  cases  this  was  done; 
in  others  the  pastors  called  together  their  ladies  and  formed  them 
into  societies  so  that  at  the  next  meeting,  held  in  McKeesport, 
October  26th,  1876,  the  additional  organizations  of  Belle  Vernon, 
Little  Redstone,  Long  Run,  McClellandtown  and  Round  Hill 
were  reported,  making  fifteen  auxiliaries  with  a  membership  of 
610,  taking  123  copies  of  "Woman's  Work,"  and  contributing  for 
the  year  ;^986.38.  Thus  was  our  Presbyterial  society  fairly 
launched,  and  from  this  time  on  the  records  of  the  Woman's  For- 
eign Missionary  Society,  at  1334  Chestnut  street,  give  the  statis- 
tics of  our  work.  The  constitution  adopted  at  one  of  the  previous 
meetings  was  very  brief  and  did  not  define  the  times  of  meeting. 
A  resolution  had  fixed  October  and  June  as  the  time  for  regular 


1/6  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

meetings.  There  seeming  to  be  some  confusion  on  this  point,  a 
committee  was  chosen  to  revise  the  constitution  and  the  next 
meeting  was  appointed  for  Uniontown  in  October.  So  many  la- 
dies being  absent  at  that  time  at  the  Centennial  in  Philadelphia, 
the  meeting  was  postponed,  and  the  society  next  con\'ened  at 
Long  Run  church,  April  24th,  1877.  At  this  time  the  following 
officers  were  chosen;  president,  Mrs.  A.  M.  Bailie,  of  McKees- 
port;  recording  secretary,  Mrs.  Wm.  N.  Robbins,  of  Long  Run; 
corresponding  secretary.  Miss  M.  B.  Campbell,  of  Uniontown ; 
treasurer,  Mrs.  S.  S.  Gilson,  of  Uniontown.  The  report  on  con- 
stitution was  deferred,  but  it  w-as  decided  that  the  annual  meeting 
should  be  held  each  year  in  October,  and  a  meeting  was  appoint- 
ed for  this  year  in  McKeesport  in  October.  Mrs.  W.  H.  Schenck, 
President,  and  Mrs.  A.  L.  Massey,  one  of  the  secretaries  of  the 
parent  society,  being  providentially  present  at  this  time,  the  for- 
mer presided  over  the  sessions  by  request  of  the  president,  Mrs. 
Bailie.  The  subject  of  the  constitution  occupied  m.uch  time  and 
one  founded  largely  on  the  model  sent  out  from  1334  Chestnut 
street,  the  headquarters  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  So- 
ciety of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  was  adopted  article  by  article. 
It  pledged  auxiliaryship  to  this  society,  but  the  name  already 
chosen  was  left  unchanged  with  a  view  to  hearing  reports,  etc., 
of  other  mission  work  than  that  done  exclusively  in  foreign  fields. 
In  it  four  vice-presidents  were  provided  for,  to  be  elected  by  the 
society,  and  those  chosen  at  this  time  were  Mrs.  S.  F.  Stevenson, 
of  Scottdale ;  Miss  Maggie  McClintock,  of  New  Providence ;  Miss 
L.  G.  Neel,  of  Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion;  and  Mrs.  Angeline  Walker, 
of  Round  Hill.  The  other  officers  were  re-elected.  Considera- 
ble discussion  was  held  as  to  the  advisability  of  holding  our 
meetings  in  connection  with  Presbytery.  All  admitted  the 
benefit  of  the  joint  ev^ening  sessions,  yet  the  difficulty  of  hav- 
ing a  place  for  both  meetings  selected  by  either  one  of  the  bod- 
ies, the  extra  burden  upon  those  entertaining,  and  the  absence 
of  many  ministers'  wives  from  such  meetings  because  they 
could  not  leave  home  at  the  same  time  with  their  husbands 
seemed  weighty  arguments  on  the  other  side.  The  decision 
was  left  to  the  Executive  Committee  and  to  them  also  was  re- 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  177 

ferred  the  work  of  districting  the  Presbytery  and  assigning  to 
each  member  of  the  Executive  Committee  a  certain  number  of 
churches  in  which  she  was  to  endeavor  to  secure  new  organiza- 
tions and  foster  and  care  for  those  already  formed.  At  an  Ex- 
ecutive Committee  meeting,  held  in  Connellsville,  June  17th,  the 
Prerbytery  was  divided  into  seven  districts.  These  have  since 
been  changed  to  four,  but  the  system  is  still  in  force.  It  was 
thought  best  to  meet  at  a  difiterent  time  and  place  from  Presby- 
tery, and  the  next  meeting  was  fixed  for  Dunbar.  At  this  time 
Miss  Campbell  was  relieved  from  the  corresponding  secretary- 
ship, by  her  own  request,  and  Miss  E.  G.  Neel  was  chosen  to  fill 
the  position,  while  Miss  Campbell  agreed  to  take  the  place  of 
vice-president,  then  held  by  I\Iiss  Neel.  Thus,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  this  interim,  Miss  Neel  has  been  our  corresponding  secre- 
tary ever  since  the  organization  until  this  present  time.  Mrs. 
Gilson  leaving  the  Presbytery,  Miss  Fannie  Elliot  was  chosen 
treasurer  at  the  next  meeting  held  in  Belle  Vernon,  October  22d 
and  23d.  1879.  At  this  meeting  the  first  complete  and  separate 
reports  from  Bands  were  received  and  recorded,  showing  nine 
Bands,  viz.:  Happy  Band,  of  Belle  Vernon;  Loring  Band,  of 
Dunbar;  Fitna  Band,  of  Elizabeth  ;  Star  Band,  of  Long  Run; 
McBride  Band,  of  McKeesport ;  Ingleside  Band,  of  Mt.  Pleasant; 
Layyah  Band,  of  Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion;  Trusting  Band,  of  Pleas- 
ant Unity,  and  Syrian  Maids  of  Uniontown.  Of  these,  a  few 
had  been  organized  for  some  time;  some  were  revived  and  others 
newly  organized  by  Miss  Loring,  in  her  second  tour  of  the  Pres- 
bytery, in  this  year.  While  some  of  these  have  kept  steadily  on 
under  the  same  name,  (changing  their  membership  from  time  to 
time,  of  course,)  others  have  dropped  out  and  new  organizations 
have  taken  their  places,  while  we  regret  to  say  that  in  some  of 
these  churches,  despite  the  increased  facilities  for  carrying  on 
such  work,  no  organization  for  children  exists  to-day.  The 
children  who  constituted  these  Bands  in  1879,  are  not  in  such  or- 
ganizations now,  having  outgrown  them,  but  we  rejoice  to  know 
that  the  impetus  to  consecrated  life  then  given  has  not  been  lost, 
and  have  we  not  just  now  sent  out  one  of  these  little  ones,  a 
member   of  this  same   Happy  Band  at  this  time,  to  cany  the 


178  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

"good  news"  to  the  benighted  women  of  China?  These  nine 
Bands  had  at  this  time  a  membership  of  246  and  contributed  for 
the  year  ^291.97. 

In  1880  we  met  in  Mt.  Pleasant,  changing  our  treasurer  to 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Kaine,  of  Uniontown.  In  1881  we  met  in  EHzabeth 
and  chose  for  treasurer,  Mrs.  S.  F.  Jones,  of  Belle  Vernon,  who 
has  ever  since  filled  the  position  so  ably.  In  1882  we  met  at 
New  Salem,  with  a  face  grown  very  familiar  missing,  recalling 
the  fact  that  death  had  for  the  first  time  since  our  organization, 
removed  one  of  our  officers,  and  we  paid  grateful  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  Mrs.  W.  N.  Robbins,  who  had,  since  her  election  in 
1887,  so  faithfully  filled  her  place  as  Recording  Secretary.  Miss 
Maggie  McClintock,  of  Carmichaels,  was  chosen  to  fill  the  place 
thus  made  vacant  and  she  continues  to  be  the  Recording  Secre- 
tary up  to  this  time.  Another  Corresponding  Secretary  has  been 
added  for  young  people  and  the  position  is  filled  by  Miss  Sadie 
Speers,  of  Dunbar. 

These  years,  thus  rapidly  named,  had  witnessed  much  steady 
growth,  but  no  particular  change  in  plans  or  methods.  At  the 
eighth  annual  meeting,  held  in  Long  Run  Church,  in  1883,  Miss 
F.  A.  Dyer,  of  Covington.  Pa.,  an  official  representative  of  the 
Woman's  Executive  Committee  of  Home  Mission  presented 
this  cause  and  urged  definite  action.  The  majority  favoring  a 
separate  organization,  a  meeting  was  arranged  for  that  purpose 
and  a  Presbyterial  Home  Missionary  Society  was  formed,  which 
held  its  meetings  jointly  with  us  (each  society  taking  one  day); 
in  1884,  at  Uniontown;  in  1885,  at  McKeesport;  in  1886,  at  Mt 
Pleasant  and  in  1887,  at  West  Newton.  In  the  meantime  our 
constitution  was  changed,  altering  our  name  to  "The  Woman's 
Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  Redstone  Presbytery."  At  the 
meeting  in  West  Newton,  it  was  proposed  to  try  separate  meet- 
ings, one  in  the  spring  and  one  in  the  fall,  many  thereby  hoping 
to  shorten  the  time  and  increase  the  interest  in  both  meetings. 
Our  constitution  requiring  us  to  meet  in  October,  notices  of  a 
proposed  change  were  sent  out  and  a  called  meeting  was  held  in 
Connellsville,  to  consider  this  subject  and  test  the  feasibility  of  a 
spring    meeting.     The    proposed    change  was   lost  and  we  met 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 


179 


again  in  the  fall  at  Rehoboth,  in  September,  instead  of  October, 
in  order  to  have  the  privilege  of  saying  good-bye  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hamilton,  our  own  Clara  Linton,  and  bidding  them  God 
speed  on  their  way  to  China.  During  the  month  of  June,  Mrs. 
Mary  Shaw,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio,  formerly  of  China,  visited  our 
societies  and  bands,  forming  some  new  ones  and  stimulating  the 
work.  By  the  statistical  report  at  the  close,  it  will  be  seen  that 
our  gain  in  some  things  has  been  small,  in  others  great,  but  we 
know  that  whatever  we  may  have  been  enabled  to  accomplish 
for  our  heathen  sisters,  through  God's  blessing  upon  our  efforts, 
"He  hath  done  great  things  for  us,  whereof  we  are  glad"  and  our 
earnest  prayer  is,  that  all  the  women  of  our  churches  may  be 
aroused  to  their  privilege  in  this  matter  of  working  "together 
with  Christ,"  and  come  with  us,  for  we  know  that  we,  through 
God's  help,  will  do  them  good. 


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22 

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April, 

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l80  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 


WOMAN'S  HOME  MISSIONARY 
SOCIETY. 


BY    MRS.    R.    E.    P.    ANDREWS. 

By  the  instruction  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1876,  the 
Synods  were  authorized  to  form  Synodical  Committees  in  the 
Presbyteries.  The  object  was  to  organize  Woman's  Home  Mis- 
sion work,  that  the  increasing  demand  in  our  land  might  be  met. 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Kaine,  of  Uniontown,  was  appointed  for  this  work  in 
Redstone  Presbytery,  to  serve  for  one  year.  Afterward,  at  her 
request,  Mrs.  W.  Fulton  Price,  of  Dunbar,  was  made  a  co-worker. 
The  duties  of  this  committee  were  not  clearly  defined,  and  un- 
der the  circumstances  it  was  difficult  to  know  what  to  do. 

After  the  organization  of  the  Synodical  Committee  of  the 
Synod,  the  following  Synodical  Committee  of  the  Presbytery  was 
appointed :  Mrs.  Joseph  Robbins,  of  Long  Run  ;  Miss  Ruth  E. 
Plumer,  of  West  Newton,  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Irwin,  of  Long  Run. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  "Woman's  Missionary  Society"  at 
Long  Run,  in  October,  1883,  the  work  of  Home  Missions  was 
definitely  presented  by  the  Secretary  of  the  Synodical  Committee. 
A  desire  for  organization  was  manifest.  The  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary of  the  Woman's  Executive  Committee,  Miss  Fannie  A. 
Dyer,  was  present,  and  was  invited  to  visit  the  churches.  This 
was  done  and  on  the  6th  of  March,  1884,  in  the  church  at  Con- 
nellsville,  the  organization  was  formed.  The  chairman  of  the 
Synodical  Committee  of  the  Synod,  Mrs.  Kate  P.  Bryan,  pre- 
sided. At  the  close  of  devotional  exercises  the  object  of  the 
meeting  was  stated,  and  Miss  Ruth  E.  Plumer  was  chosen  secre- 
tary. The  roll  was  called  and  the  following  churches  responded 
by  delegate :  Long  Run,  West  Newton,  Connellsville,  Union- 
town,  New  Salem,  Tent,  Fairchance,  Mt.  Vernon,  Mt.  Pleasant; 
by  representation:     Scottdale  and   New    Providence;  by  letter: 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  l8l 

McKeesport,  Dunlap's  Creek,  Somerset,  Rehoboth,  New  Provi- 
dence, Belle  Vernon.  There  were  also  present,  Mrs.  Bailey  and 
Miss  L.  G.  Neel,  president  and  secretary  of  the  "Woman's  Mis- 
sionary Society"  of  the  Presbytery.  Shall  we  organize  jointly 
or  separately  was  open  for  discussion  and  each  delegate  was 
called  to  express  the  wish  of  her  society.  West  Newton  alone, 
gave  her  voice  for  joint  organization,  that  is,  one  president  for 
Home  and  Foreign,  and  distinct  secretaries  and  treasurers.  The 
following  officers  were  then  elected:  President,  Mrs.  A.  Z.  Mc- 
Gogney,  Connellsville.  Vice-presidents,  Mrs.  Neff,  New  Haven ; 
Mrs.  Knox,  McKeesport;  Mrs.  Larimer,  Long  Run;  Mrs.  Mil- 
holland,  Uniontown.  Corresponding  Secretary,  Miss  Ruth  E. 
Plumer,  West  Newton.  Recording  Secretary,  Mrs.  S.  E.  C.  Al- 
lison, Uniontown.  Treasurer,  Mrs.  Brittie  Power  Huselton, 
West  Newton.  The  Constitution  was  adopted  as  a  whole,  with 
such  exceptions  as  suited  the  convenience  of  the  society. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting,  the  Executive  Committees  of 
the  two  societies  held  a  brief  session  and  decided  to  hold  the 
two  annual  meetings  at  the  same  time  and  place,  devoting  one- 
half  time  to  each  society.  The  first  meeting  was  held  in  Union- 
town,  in  September,  1884;  the  second  in  McKeesport,  in  Octo- 
ber, 1885.  At  this  meeting,  Miss  Annie  S.  Ewing,  of  Union- 
town,  was  elected  Recording  Secretary.  Annual  reports  of  our 
work  were  sent  to  the  spring  sessions  of  Presbytery.  In  the 
spring  following  the  last  meeting,  a  letter  was  prepared  by  the 
Corresponding  Secretary  and  addressed :  "To  the  Pastors  and 
Ruling  Elders  of  Redstone  Presbytery  now  in  session  at  Mc- 
Keesport." In  this  our  work  was  presented  and  approved,  and 
co-operation  invited. 

The  following  reply  was  received: 

Fairchanxe,  Pa.,  July  14th,  1886. 
Miss  Ruth  E.  Plumer,  Secretary  of  Presbyterial  Home  Missions : 

I  am  instructed  to  send  you  the  following  action  of  Red- 
stone Presbytery:  Resolved,  ist.  That  the  Presbytery  hereby 
expresses  its  great  satisfaction,  in  view  of  the  good  work  accom- 
plished by  our  Home  Mission  Presbyterial  Society,  and  that  we 


152  PRESBYTERY   OF    REDSTONE. 

express  to  them  our  entire  sympathy  with  them  in  their  work. 
2d.  That  our  Stated  Clerk  be  directed  to  transmit  to  this  socie- 
ty, through  their  Secretary,  Miss  R.  E.  Plumer,  these  resolu- 
tions, together  with  the  resolutions  referring  to  their  work  at  our 
last  stated  meeting.  The  action  taken  at  Pleasant  Unity  is  as 
follows:  Resolved,  That  we  urge  the  organization  of  a  Wo- 
man's Home  Missionary  Society  in  every  church  in  the  Presby- 
tery, where  such  an  organization  does  not  exist. 

W.  C.  Bailey,  Stated  Clerk. 

The  third  meeting  was  held  in  Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion  Church, 
and  at  this  meeting  Miss  Ruth  E.  Plumer  was  elected  president 
and  Mrs.  Davitt,  of  McKeesport,  corresponding  secretary.  The 
latter  declining,  the  work  was  carried  on  for  the  year  without  the 
office. 

The  fourth  annual  meeting  was  held  in  West  Newton.  An 
interesting  feature  was  a  Thank  Offering  service.  The  offering 
amounted  to  $101.75.  Mrs.  R.  F.  Smith,  of  Pleasant  Unity,  was 
elected  recording  secretary,  and  Mrs.  Isabel  R.  Harrison,  of  Mc- 
Keesport, corresponding  secretary. 

Valuable  service  has  been  given  by  Mrs.  Sarah  Finley,  Mrs. 
L.  P.  Meloy,  Mrs.  Vinnie  Robinson,  Mrs.  M.  C.  Bailey  and  Mrs. 
A.  O.  Robinson. 

Death  has  found  its  shining  marks  and  removed  Mrs.  Berry, 
Mrs.  Larimer,  Mrs.  Emma  Robinson  Deffenbaugh  and  Miss  Ada 
Brown. 

To  advance  the  work,  letters  have  been  sent  to  the  auxilia- 
ries and  churches,  literature  distributed  and  meetings  held  in  the 
four  districts. 

There  are  fifteen  Societies,  six  Bands  and  one  "Young  Men's 
Circle."  The  total  membership  of  the  Society,  as  reported,  is 
444.     It  has  contributed  in  money,  1^2,459,  ^"^  '^^  boxes,  $724.96. 

The  office  of  treasurer  has  been  filled  since  the  organization 
by  Mrs.  Brittle  Power  Huselton.  The  foundation  has  been  laid 
in  believing  prayer,  and  we  trust  this  fair  building  will  rise  to  the 
honor  of  the  Lord  our  God. 

The  fifth  annual  meeting  will  be  held  in  Uniontown,  Octo- 
ber loth,  1888. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  183 


ROLL  OF  MINISTERS  AND  LICENTIATES. 


No.  I.  Joseph  Smith.  Original  member;  lie.  P.b.y.  New 
Castle,  Aug.  5,  '67;  ord.  and  inst.  Lower  Brandywine,  Del,  P. 
April  19,  '67-1772;  2d  ch.  Brandywine,  P.  1774-1778;  transferred 
to  Presbytery  of  Redstone;  P.  Buffalo  and  Cross  Creek,  1780- 
1792;  died,  April  19,  1792. 

No.  2.  John  McMillan,  D.  D.  Original  member;  lie. 
1774,  Pres.  New  Castle;  ord.  Pres.  Donegal;  P.  Chartiers  and 
Pigeon  Creek,  1781-1833;  set  over  to  form  Ohio  Pres.,  Oct.  18, 
1793;  died,  Nov.  16,  1833;  founded  the  "Log  College"  about 
i78o-'82. 

No.  3.  James  Power,  D.  D.  Original  member;  lie.  June 
24,  1772,  by  Pres.  of  New  Castle;  ord.  by  same,  1776;  P.  Sewick- 
ley,  1781-1787;  Mt.  Pleasant,  1781 — April  15,  1817;  died,  Aug.  5, 
1830. 

No.  4.  Thaddeus  Dodd.  Original  member;  lie.  1775, 
Pres.  New  York;  ord.  same  Pres.,  1777;  P.  Patterson's  Creek, 
Hampshire  co.,  Va.,  1 777-1 779;  transferred  to  Ten  Mile,  Red- 
stone; P.  1 781-1793;  taught  Ten  Mile  and  Washington;  died. 
May  20,  1793. 

No.  5.  James  DuNLAP,  D.  D.  Lie.  1776,  Pres.  Donegal; 
ord.  1781,  Pres.  New  Castle;  rec'd,  Oct.  15,  1782;  P.  Dun- 
lap's  Creek,  1782-89;  Laurel  Hill,  1782 — June  29,  1803; 
dis.  Pres.  Ohio,  June  29,  1803;  Pres't  Jeff.  Coll.,  1803-1811; 
rec'd,  Oct.  29,  18 1 3,  Ohio;  P.  Uniontown,  1812-1814;  dis.  Oct. 
16,  1 8 16,  Phila.;  died,  1818. 

No.  6.  John  Clark.  Rec'd  Pres.  New  Castle,  March  12, 
1783;  supplied  for  a  time  Peter's  Creek;  P.  Lebanon,  April;  1788, 
Bethel — transferred  to  Pres.  Ohio,  Oct.  18,   1793. 

No.  7.  James  Finley.  Ord.  and  inst.  by  New  Castle  Pres. 
P.  East  Nottingham,  Md.,  1752-1782;  rec'd,  June  21,  1785;  P. 
Rehoboth  and  Round  Hill,  1785-1795;  died,  Jan.  6,  1795. 


184  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

No.  8.  Samuel  Barr.  Called  to  Pittsburg  and  Pitt  tp., 
Dec,  1785  ;  rec'd  from  Pres.  New  Castle,  April  17,  1787;  P.  Pitts- 
burg and  Pitt  tp.,  till  June,  1789;  suspended,  1789 ;  restored, 
1790;  dis.  to  Pres.  New  Castle,  Sept.  30,  1790. 

No.  9.  John  Brice.  Taken  on  trials,  Aug.  16,  1786;  lie. 
April  16,  1788;  ord.  April  22,  1790  and  inst.  P.  Three  Ridges 
and  Forks  of  Wheeling;  transferred  to  form  Pres.  Ohio,  Oct.   18, 

1793- 

No.  10.  James  Hughes.  Taken  on  trials,  Aug.  16,  1786; 
lie.  April  16,  1788;  called,  April  22,  1789,  to  Lower  Buffalo  and 
Short  Creek;  ord.  and  inst.  P.,  April  21,  1790;  transferred  to 
form  Pres.  of  Ohio,  Oct.  18, 1793. 

No.  II.  Joseph  Patterson.  Taken  on  trials,  Aug.  13, 
1788;  lie.  Aug.  13,  1788;  called,  April  22,  1789,  to  Upper  Rac- 
coon and  Montour's  Run;  ord.  and  inst.,  Nov.  ii,  1789;  trans- 
ferred to  form  Pres.  Ohio,  Oct.  18,  1793. 

No.  12.  James  McGrady.  Taken  on  trial,  April  19,  1787; 
lie.  Aug.  13,  1788  ;  dismissed  as  licentiate  to  Pres.  of  Orange, 
April  20,  1 79 1. 

No.  13.  John  McPherrin.  On  trials,  Jan.  21,  1789;  lie. 
Aug.  20,  1789;  called  to  Salem  and  Unity,  April  20,  1790;  ord. 
and  inst.,  Sept.  22,  1790 ;  Unity,  1790-1800;  Salem,  1790 — April 
19,  1803  ;  dis.  to  Erie,  Oct.  16,  1804. 

No.  14.  Samuel  Porter.  On  trial  as  cand.,  Jan.  22,  1789; 
lie.  Nov.  12,  1789;  called  to  Poke  Run  and  Congruity,  April  21, 
1789;  ord.  and  inst..  Poke  Run  and  Congruity,  Sept.  22,  1790 — 
April  II,  1798;  inst.  Congruity,  P.  April  11,  1798  ;  died,  Sept.  23, 
1825. 

No.  15.  Robert  Marshel.  On  trials,  April  24,  1789;  lie. 
April  23,  1790;  Synodical  Miss'y,  Sept.  30,  1790 — Oct.  1792; 
dis.  to  Pres.  Transylvania,  1792,  as  licentiate. 

No.  16.  Rev.  Robert  Finley.  Rec'd  Nov.  11,  1789,  from 
Pres.  S.  Carolina;  called  to  Mill  Creek  and  King's  Creek,  April 
21,  1790;  dis.  June  29,  1791,  Ky. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  1 85 

No.  17.  George  Hill.  On  trials,  April  23,  1790;  lie.  Dec. 
22,  1 791  ;  called  to  Fairfield,  Donegal  and  Wheatfield,  April  17, 
1792;  ord.  Nov.  13,  1792,  and  inst.  as  P. — Wheatfield,  April  11, 
1798;  Fairfield  and  Donegal,  1798 — Oct.  21,  1818;  called  to 
Fairfield  and  Ligonier  same  date;  inst.  Nov.,  1818;  died,  June  9, 
1822. 

No.  18.  William  Swan.  On  trials,  April  21,  1791  ;  lie. 
Dec.  22,  1791 ;  called  to  Long  Run  and  Sewickley  and  ord.  and 
inst.,  Oct.  16,  1793;  res.  Oct.  20,  181 8;  called  to  Long  Run, 
April  20,  1 8 19,  and  inst.  during  the  summer;  res.  April  17, 
1822;  died,  Nov.  13,  1827. 

No.  19.  David  Smith.  On  trials,  Dec.  20,  1791  ;  lie.  Nov. 
14,  1792  ;  called  to  George's  Creek  and  Union  (Tent),  Oct.  16, 
'93  ;  ord.  and  inst,  Aug.  20,  1794;  res.  Oct.  18,  1797  ;  Rehoboth 
and  Round  Hill,  inst.  Dec.  27,  1797;  died,  Aug.  24,  1803. 

No.  20.  Rev.  Jacob  Jennings.  Rec'd,  April  17,  1792,  Ref. 
Dutch  Synod  N.  Y.  and  N.  J.;  supplied  previously  at  Delap's 
Creek  and  Muddy  Creek;  called  and  inst.  P.  Delap's  Creek  and 
Muddy  Creek;  dis.  fi-om  Muddy  Creek,  Oct.  17,  1797;  resigned 
Dunlap's  Creek,  June  18,  181 1;  died,  Feb.  17,  1813. 

No.  21.  Thomas  Marquis.  On  trials,  April  19,  1792;  lie. 
April  19,  1793;  dis.  as  licentiate  to  Ohio  Pres.,  April  15,  1794; 
called  to  Cross  Creek. 

No.  22.  Boyd  Mercer.  On  trials,  June  27,  1792;  lie. 
April  19,  1793;  dis.  as  licentiate  to  Pres.  Ohio,  Oct.  22,  1794; 
supplied  part  of  the  time  at  McKeesport  till  1822. 

No.  23.  Samuel  Mahon.  Rec'd  as  a  licentiate  from  Pres. 
Carlisle,  Nov.  14,  1792;  called  to  Pittsburg;  dis.  to  Carlisle,  Oct. 
17.  1793- 

No.  24.  Thomas  Moore.  Rec'd  as  licentiate  from  Cong'l 
Asso.  of  Bristol,  Mass.,  Oct.  16,  1793;  called  to  United  Con- 
gregations of  Ten  Mile;  dis.  to  the  Pres.  of  Ohio,  Aug.  19,  1794; 
ord.  and  inst.  there,  Oct.  16,  1799;  rec'd  from  Ohio,  July  4,  1804; 


1 86  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

called  to  Salem  and  inst.,  April   19,  1809;  dis.  April  20,   1814,  to 
Lancaster  Pres. 

No.  25.  James  Adams.  On  trials,  April  23,  1795;  lie. 
April  20,  1797;  called  to  Union  (Tent),  George's  Creek  and 
Muddy  Creek  (New  Providence),  April  9,  1799;  ord.  and  inst., 
Oct.  19,  following;  resigned  Muddy  Creek,  April  22,  1802;  res. 
Oct.  19,  1 8 14,  and  dis,  same  time  to  Pres.  of  Lancaster. 

No.  26.  Samuel  Ralston.  Rec'd  as  licentiate  from  Pres. 
New  Castle,  April  19,  1796;  dis.  Pres.  Ohio,  Oct  19,  1796;  called 
to  Mingo  Creek  and  Horse  Shoe  Bottom. 

No.  27.  Wm.  Woods.  Rec'd  as  licentiate,  Pres,  New  Cas- 
tle, Oct.  19,  1796;  dis.  Pres.  Ohio,  April  18,  1797;  called  to 
Bethel  and  Lebanon. 

No.  28.  Andrew  Given.  On  trials,  Oct  18,  1797;  lie, 
Oct.  18,  1798;  dis.  as  a  lie.  to  Pres.  of  Ohio,  Dec.  25,  1799. 

No.  29.  Rev.  Jos.  W.  Henderson.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Car- 
lisle, April  9,  1799;  called  to  Ebenezer  and  Bethel,  on  Blacklick, 
April  10,  1799;  res.  Oct.  22,  1823;  set  over  to  form  Blairsville 
Pres.,  Oct.  30,  1830. 

No.  30.  William  MooRHEAD.  On  trials,  June  26,  1799; 
lie.  April  9,  1800;  died,  Dec.  i,  1802;  traveled  for  his  health. 

No.  31.  John  Boyd.  On  trials,  April  10,  1800;  lie.  April 
23,  1801  ;  accepted  a  call  and  was  dismissed,  Oct.  21,  1801,  to 
the  Pres.  of  Erie,  organized  by  Synod  of  Va.  in  1801. 

No.  32.  Francis  Laird.  Lie.  from  Pres.  Carlisle;  rec'd, 
June  24,  1800;  called  to  Puckety  (Plum  Creek)  and  Poke  Run, 
same  date;  ord.  and  inst.,  Oct.  22,  1800;  set  over  to  form  Blairs- 
ville Pres.,  Oct.  30,  1830. 

No.  33.  Rev.  John  Black.  Rec'd  Pres.  Carlisle,  Dec.  24, 
1800;  supplied  Greensburg  and  Unity,  April  21,  1801 — April  21, 
1802. 

No.  34.  John  Wright.  On  trials,  April  23,  1801;  lie, 
Oct.  21,  1802;  called  to  Hawking  and  Rush  Creek,  April  17, 
1805,  Pres.  Ohio,  and  dis.,  Oct.  16,  1805. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  1 8/ 

No.  35.  James  McLane.  Lie. and  rec'd,  Oct.  21,  i8oi,  from 
Pres.  Carlisle,  supply;  last  mention  found  of  him,  April  19,  1804. 

No.  36.  Abraha.m  Boyd.  Lie.  and  rec'd,  Oct.  21,  1801, 
from  Pres.  Ohio ;  accepted  call  and  dismissed  to  the  new  Pres. 
of  Erie,  Oct.  21,  1801. 

No.  37.  James  Guthrie.  On  trials,  Oct.  22,  1801  ;  lie. 
April  20,  1803;  called  to  Laurel  Hill  and  Tyrone,  April  18,  1804, 
and  ord.  and  inst.  P.,  April  17,  1805-1850;  died,  Aug.   24,    1850. 

No.  38.  Rev.  Robert  Steele.  Rec'd,  April  21,  1802, 
from  Pres.  Londonderry,  Ireland,  after  the  trials  prescribed  by 
the  General  As.sembly;  called  to  Pittsburg.  Oct.  20,  1802;  had 
supplied  previously ;  died,  March  22,  1810. 

No.  39.  Robert  McGarraugh.  On  trials,  June  23,  1802; 
lie.  Oct.  19,  1803;  called  to  New  Rehoboth  and  Licking,  April 
17,  1805,  and  after  several  disappointments  because  of  distance, 
ord.  and  inst.,  Nov.  12,  1807;  set  over  to  Erie,  Oct.  15,  181 1. 

No.  40.  James  Galbraith.  On  trials,  June  23,  1802;  lie. 
Oct.  19,  1803;  itinerated  out  of  bounds  of  Pres.;  dis.  to  Erie, 
Oct.  17,  1805;  rec'd  from  Erie,  Oct.  22,  1806,  and  called  to  Gil- 
gal  and  Harmony;  ord.  and  inst.  P.,  Nov.  13,  1806;  res.  Har- 
mony, April  21,  181 1 ;  supplied  at  Indiana  half  time;  res.  Gilgal, 
April  16,  1816;  dis.  April  17,  1866,  to  Huntingdon. 

No.  41.  Rev.  William  Speer.  Rec'd,  April  19,  1803, 
from  Pres.  of  Washington;  called  to  Greensburg  and  Unity  and 
inst.  pastor;  died,  April  26,  1829. 

No.  42.  James  Graham.  Lie.  and  rec'd,  April  18,  1804, 
from  Pres.  Carlisle;  called  to  Pitt  tp.  (Beulah),  April  18,  1804; 
ord.  and  inst,  Oct.  18,  1804;  set  over  to  Blairsville  Pres.,  Oct.  30, 
1830. 

No.  43.  Rev.  Wm.  Wylie.  Rec'd,  Feb.  6,  1805,  from  Pres. 
Erie,  and  called  to  Rehoboth  and  Round  Hill  and  inst.  same 
year;  res.  April  16,  18 16;  called  to  Uniontown,  April   21,    18 19; 


1 88  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

inst.  P.  1st  Tuesday  of  May,    1819;  res.   Oct.,    1823,   and  dis.  to 
Pres.  of  Washington. 

No.  44.  Rev.  Nathaniel  R.  Snowden.  Rec'd,  Oct.  15, 
1805,  from  Pres.  Carlisle  and  called  on  Oct.  16,  to  2d  Pres.  ch., 
Pittsburg,  and  inst.;  res.  and  was  dis.  to  Pres.  of  New  Castle, 
Dec.  10,  1805  ;  rec'd,  April  19,  1825;  supplied  Kittanning  two 
years;  dis.  to  Allegheny  Pres.,  Oct.  6,  1830. 

No.  45.  John  Boggs.  Lie.  and  rec'd,  Oct.  21,  1807,  from 
Pres.  of  Winchester  and  called  to  the  2d  Pres.  ch.,  Pittsburg;  ord. 
and  inst.  P.,  Dec.  2d,  1807;  res.  April  20,  1808,  and  dis.  to  Pres. 
of  Winchester. 

No.  46.  Samuel  Porter,  Jr.  On  trials,  April  18,  1809; 
lie.   Dec.  26,  1809;  dis.,  Oct.  17,  18 10,  to  Pres.  of  Carlisle. 

No.  47.  Thomas  Hurst.  Lie.  and  rec'd,  June  27,  1809, 
from  Pres.  Ohio,  and  called  to  the  2d  ch.,  Pittsburg ;  ord.  and 
inst.  P.,  Dec.  27,  1809;  res.  July  1st,  18 18;  dis.  Oct  9,  18 18,  to 
Ohio. 

No.  48.  Rev.  Joseph  Stockton.  Rec'd,  Oct.  17,  18 10, 
from  Pres.  Erie;  supply  Allegheny  and  Pine  Creek,  '15-22;  set 
over  to  Pres.  of  Ohio,  October  15,  '22. 

No.  49.  Rev.  Francis  Herron.  Rec'd,  June  18,  181 1, 
from  Pres.  Carlisle  and  called  to  the  ist  Pres.  ch.,  Pittsburg,  and 
inst.  as  pastor;  set  over  to  Pi'es.  of  Ohio  on  Oct.  15,  '22  ;  res.  in 
'50 ;  died,  Dec.  6,  '60. 

No.  50.  Rev.  Robert  Lee.  Rec'd,  April  20,  '13,  Pres. 
Erie;  called,  April  21,  to  Salem,  and  inst.  P.,  Aug.,  '13  ;  res.,  Oct. 
20,  '19;  dis.,  April  17,  '22,  to  Pres.  Richland. 

No.  51.  Wm.  Johnston.  Lie.  and  rec'd,  April  21,  '13, 
from  Ohio  and  called  to  Dunlap's  Creek  and  Brownsville,  and 
ord.  and  inst.  P.,  Oct.  20,  '13  ;  died,  Dec.  31,  '41. 

No.  52.  Rev.  Robert  Patterson.  Rec'd,  Oct.  19,  '13, 
from  Pres.  Erie;  set  over  to  Pres.  of  Ohio,  Oct.  15,  '22. 

No.  53.  James  Coe.  On  trials,  Oct.  17,  '16;  lie.  Oct.  22, 
'17;  dis.  April  21,  '19,  to  Pres.  Washington. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  1 89 

No.  54.  John  Ross.  No  mention  of  his  reception  as  licen- 
tiate ;  after  trials,  ord.  Dec.  3,  '17,  and  inst.  as  P.  of  Somerset; 
res.  Oct.  20,  '19;  dis.  to  Pres.  Ohio,  same  time. 

No.  55.  Rev.  Robert  Johnston.  Rec'd,  April  21,  '18, 
from  Erie  and  called  to  Rehoboth  and  Round  Hill  and  inst.  P., 
June,  1818;  res.  Dec.  13. '31 ;  supply  for  the  winter;  dis.  to  Blairs- 
ville,  April,  '34. 

No.  56.  John  Reed.  Licentiate  rec'd,  April  21,  '18,  from 
Ohio  and  called  to  Indiana  and  Gilgal;  ord.  and  inst.  P.,  Oct.  21, 
*i8;  set  over  to  Blairsville,  Oct.  30,  '30. 

No.  57.  AsHBEL  Green  Fairchild.  Licentiate  rec'd,  April 
21,  '18,  from  Pres.  New  Jersey;  ord.  as  Ev.,  July  i,  '18;  called 
to  Morgantown,  George's  Creek  and  Greensboro,  July  2,  '22,  and 
inst.  P.;  res.  Morgantown  and  Greensboro,  Oct.  19,  '27;  called  to 
Union  (Tent),  Oct,  19,  and  inst.  2d  Monday  of  Nov.,  '2"];  died, 
June  30,  '64. 

No.  58.  Rev.  Asa  Brooks.  Rec'd,  April  20,  '19,  Cen- 
tral Association,  county  of  Hampshire,  Mass.;  called  to  French 
Creek  and  Buckhannon,  April  21;  res.  French  Creek,  Oct.  5, 
'31 ;  supply  Clarksburg  for  6  mos. ;  died,  Dec.  23,  '34. 

No.  59.  Rev,  Elisha  P.  Swift.  Rec'd,  Oct.  19,  '19,  from 
Pres.  of  New  Castle  and  called,  Oct.  20,  to  2d  Pres.  ch.  Pittsburg, 
and  inst.  ist  Wednesday  Nov.  following;  set  over  to  Pres.  Ohio, 
Oct.  15,  '22;  continued  in  this  pastorate  till  March,  '33;  Sec.  W. 
F.  M.  Society  of  Synod  of  Pittsburg,  '33-35;  P.  ist  ch.,  Alle- 
gheny, '35-65 ;  died,  April  3,  '65 ;  D.  D. 

No.  60.  Rev.  Aretus  Loomis.  Rec'd,  April  18,  '20,  from 
Central  Association,  Hampshire  co.,  Mass.,  and  called  to  L^pper 
and  Lower  congregations  of  Tygart's  Valley;  attached  to  Pres. 
of  Lexington,  Oct.  '23. 

No.  61.  Rev.  Allen  D.  Campbell.  Rec'd,  Oct.  18,  '20, 
A.  R.  Pres.  Monongahela;  dis.  Oct.  18,  '20,  to  West  Tennessee; 
D.  D. 

No.  62.  Rev.  David  Barclay.  Rec'd,  Oct.  18,  '20,  from 
Pres.  of  Newton ;  supplied   Harmony,   Lower   Plum   Creek  and 


IQO  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

Glade  Run,  '21 ;  supply  at  Punxsutawney  part  of  time,  Oct.,  '23; 
set  off,  Oct.  30,  '30.  to  Blairsville. 

No.  63.  Thomas  Davis.  On  trials,  Oct.  18,  '20;  lie.  Feb. 
13,  '22;  called  to  Salem  and  West  Union  (now  Blairsville),  Oct. 
16,  '22;  ord.  and  inst,  Nov.  13,  '22;  setoff,  O.ct.  30,  '30.  This  re- 
lation continued  till  his  death.  May  28,  '48.  Rev.  George  Hill, 
D.  D.,  was  co-pastor  from  Dec.  4,  '41,  and  is  still  pastor  of  Blairs- 
ville, with  a  co-pastor  for  the  last  year. 

No.  64.  Andrew  O.  Patterson.  Licentiate  rec'd,  Jan.  15, 
'21,  from  Pres.  Washington  ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Mt.  Pleasant  and 
Sewickley,  April  18,  '21 — Oct.  8,  '34;  Agt.  Bd.  Home  Miss., 
'34;  dis.  to  Beaver,  April  5,  '37;  from  Pres.  Oxford,  Nov.  11,  '57; 
inst.  P.  West  Newton  same  day ;  res.  April,  '63 ;  to  Pres.  Oxford, 
April  29,  '63. 

No.  65.  Rev.  John  Andrews.  Rec'd,  April  16,  '22,  from 
Pres.  Chillicothe;  set  over  to  Pres.  of  Ohio,  Oct.  15,  22, 

No.  66.  Matthew  Dunlap.  Licentiate  rec'd,  April,  6,  '23, 
from  Relief  Pres.  of  Glasgow,  Scotland ;  supplied  various  places 
in  and  out  of  Pres.;  was  dismissed  to  Richland  Pres.,  April  12, 
'27;  did  not  go ;  last  mention,  Oct.  7,  '30. 

No.  67.  John  H.  Kirkpatrick.  Cand.,  April  20,  '24;  lie. 
Oct.  4,  '25 ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Harmony  and  Armagh,  Dec.  13,  '26; 
set  over  to  Pres.  Blairsville,  Oct.  30,  '30. 

No.  68.  Samuel  Swan.  Licentiate  rec'd,  April  20, '24,  from 
Pres.  Huntingdon;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Fairfield,  Ligonier  and  Don- 
egal, June  17,  '24;  set  over  to  Pres.  Blairsville,  Oct.  30,  '30. 

No,  69.  Rev.  Jesse  Smith.  Rec'd,  April  21,  '24,  from 
Pres.  Winchester;  inst.  P.  Ebenezer  and  Bethel,  on  Blacklick,  3d 
Tuesday  June;  set  over  to  Blairsville,  Oct.  30,  '30. 

No.  70.  Alexander  McCandless.  Licentiate  rec'd.  Oct. 
19,  '24,  Pres.  Ohio  and  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Long  Run  and  McKees- 
port,  April  20,  '25;  res.  McKeesport,  Oct.  5, '37;  res.  Long-  Run, 
June  5,  '38  ;  inst.  again  '39 — April  8,  '45  ;  to  Pres.  Newton,  N.  J., 
Sept.  12,  '46. 


PRKSBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  I9I 

No.  71.  Rev.  Nathaniel  R.  Snowden.  Rec'd,  April  19, 
'25,  Pres.  Northumberland  ;  supplied  Kittanning  and  elsewhere; 
dis.  to  Allegheny  Pres.,  Oct.  6,  '30. 

No.  72.  Rev.  Joseph  Harper.  Rec'd,  April  19,  '25,  Pres. 
Richland ;  inst.  P.  Saltsburg  and  Warren,  3d  Thursday  May,  '25  ; 
res.  Warren,  Oct.  6,  '29;  res.  Saltsburg  and  dis.  to  Hartford  (or 
Erie),  Oct.  5,  '31. 

No.  73.  Rev.  George  Vaxeman.  Attached  by  Synod  to 
Redstone,  from  Ohio,  Oct.  3,  '26  ;  P.  New  Providence  and  Jef- 
ferson; res.  April  8,  '35;  to  Pres.  Miami,  June  18,  '35. 

No.  74.  Elisha  D.  Barret,  M.  D.  Cand.,  Oct.  5,  '25  ;  lie. 
April  12,  '27;  ord.  P.  Lower  Plum  Creek  and  Glade  Run,  Dec.  lO, 
'28;  set  over  to  Blairsville  Pres.,  Oct.  30,  '30. 

No.  75.  Samuel  McFarren.  Licentiate  rec'd,  Aug.  29, 
'27  ,Pres.  Washington;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Congruity,  Oct.  3,  '27; 
set  over  to  Blairsville  Pres.,  Oct.  30,  '30. 

No.  ^6.  John  Holmes  Agnew.  *  Licentiate  rec'd,  Dec,  11, 
'27,  Pres.  Carlisle,  and  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Uniontown,  Jan.  26,  '28 ; 
res.  April  2,  '31,  and  dis.  Washington  Pres. 

No.  'j'j.  Ada.m  Torrence.  Cand.,  Oct.  8,  '28 ;  lie.  Oct.  7, 
'30;  dis.  to  Pres.  Richland,  Oct.  4,  '31. 

No.  78.  Robert  Henry.  Liccentiate  rec'd,  Oct.  7,  '29, 
from  2d  Pres.  New  York  ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Greensburg  and  Unity, 
April  7,  '30;  died,  '39. 

No.  79.  John  T.  Ewing.  Licentiate  rec'd,  Oct.  21,  '29, 
from  Pres.  New  Brunswick  ;  to  Blairsville  Pres.,  Dec.  6,  '32. 

No.  80.  Watson  Hughes.  Licentiate  rec'd,  June  15,  '30, 
Pres.  Hartford ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Saltsburg  and  Warren,  Oct.  6, 
'30;  set  over  to  Blairsville,  Oct.  30,  '30;  from  Blairsville,  April  8, 
'51;  inst.  P.  West  Newton,  June  11 — Sept.  20,  '54,  and  dis.  to 
Pres  Ohio;  from  Pres.  Ohio,  Nov.  11,  '57  ;  died,  March  25,  '69. 

No.  81.  James  Campbell.  Licentiate  rec'd,  June  15,  '30, 
Pres.  New  Brunswick ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Kittanning  and  Crooked 
Creek,  Aug.  11,  '30;  set  over  to  Blairsville,  Oct.  30,  '30. 


192  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

No.  82.  S.  Howell  Terry.  Licentiate  rec'd,  June  15,  '30. 
Pres.  Lewes;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Somerset  and  Jenner,  July  7,  '30 — 
April  8,  '35  ;  to  Blairsville  Pres.  same  date. 

No.  83.  James  Wilson.  Cand.,  June  15,  '30;  lie.  April  3, 
'33;  to  Hudson  Pres..  Oct.  18,  '33. 

No.  84.  John  Watson  Johnston.  Cand.,  April  2,  '31  ;  lie. 
April  3,  33;  to  Pres.  Allegheny,  April  7,  '36. 

No.  85.  Bela  Allen.  Cand.,  April  2,  '31;  died,  March 
26,  '32. 

No.  86.  Joel  Stoneroad.  Licentiate  rec'd,  Oct.  4,  '3 1 ,  Pres. 
New  Brunswick;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Uniontown,  Dec.  13,  '31  — 
April  14,  '41;  to  Pres.  Washington,  Oct.  6,  '42;  from  Washing- 
ton, June  5,  '50,  and  installed  co-pastor  with  Rev.  Jas.  Guthrie, 
over  Laurel  Hill  and  Tyrone;  then  pastor;  died,  Aug.  1 1,  '84. 

No.  87.  Rev.  Cyrus  B.  Bristol.  From  Pres.  of  Bedford, 
April  4,  '32,  and  inst.  P.  Middletown  or  Fairmount;  res.  April 
7,  '44;  to  Blairsville  Pres.,  April  8,  '45. 

No.  88.  Robert  M.  Finley.  Cand.,  Oct.  4.  '32  ;  lie.  Oct. 
9,  '34;  ord.  as  Ev.,  Oct.  5,  '36;  S.  Supply  Somerset  and  Jenner, 
'46-'47 ;  to  Pres.  Wooster,  April  13,  '47. 

No.  89.  Rev.  Noah  H.  Gillett.  From  2d  Pres.  Long 
Island;  inst.  P.  Rehoboth  and  Round  Hill.  Dec.  31,  '34;  res. 
Round  Hill,  Nov.  17,  '40,  all  his  time  to  Rehoboth;  res.  Oct.  4, 
'48,  and  dis.  to  Blairsville  same  day. 

No.  90.  James  McDougall.  Lie.  from  Pres.  Cayuga, 
April  7,  '35;  ord.  as  Ev.,  June  18,  '35,  missionary;  to  2d  Pres. 
Long  Island,  Sept.  14,  '36. 

No.  91.  William  G.  Bell.  Cand.,  April  8,  '35;  lie.  Oct. 
5,  '39;  to  Pres.  Missouri,  Jan.  15,  '40. 

No.  92.  John  M.  Smith.  Cand.,  Oct.  7,  '35  ;  lie.  June  6, 
'38;  to  Ohio,  Dec.  3,  '39;  from  Ohio,  Sept.  18,  '66;  supply;  name 
stricken  from  the  roll,  April  26,  '71. 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  1 93 

No.  93.  Rev.  W.m.  Annax.  From  Pres.  Huntingdon, 
April  5, '36;  inst.  P.  Sewickley,  2d  Thursd.  June,  '36 — April  13, 
'38;  to  Pres.  Ohio,  April  9,  '39. 

No.  94.  Rev.  Samuel  Montgomery.  From  Pres.  Blairs- 
ville,  April  5,  '36 ;  inst.  P.  Mt.  Pleasant,  last  Tuesday  April,  1836 ; 
May  19.  '40,  ^vent  to  New  School  branch. 

No.  95.  Joseph  H.  Chambers.  Cand.,  April  6,  '36  ;  lie. 
April  13,  '38;  to  Steubenville,  Feb.  7,  '39. 

No.  96.  Rev.  James  Baber.  From  Pres.  of  Lexington, 
Oct.  5,  '36;  supply.  New  Providence,  i  year;  to  Pres.  Winche.s- 
ter,  Oct.  I,  '39. 

No.  97.  Rev.  John  L.  Hawkins.  From  Pres.  Washing- 
ton, June  20,  37,  and  inst.  P.  Connellsville  same  day;  had  been 
stated  supply  from  Dec.  15,  '31 ;  res.  April  12,  '43  ;  to  Pres,  Kas- 
kaskia,  Oct.  6,  '46. 

No.  98.  Jacob  Pentzer.  Cand.,  Oct.  5,  '37;  lie.  April  16, 
'40;  to  Pres.  Miami,  Oct.  6,  '41. 

No.  99.  James  Davis.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  Blairville, 
April  II,  1838;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Morgantown,  Oct.  4,  '37 — April 
10,  '55;  to  Pres.  Blairsville,  Oct.  22,  '56. 

No.  100.  George  Plumer.  Cand.,  April  12,  1838  ;  discon- 
tinued, April  17,  '40. 

No.  loi.  EzEKiEL  QuiLLEN.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  New 
Brunswick,  Oct.  2,  1838 ;  ord.  Oct.  4,  '38;  inst.  P.  Clarksburg, 
Dec,  '38 — April  15,  '52;  to  Pres.  Washington,  April  12,  '53. 

No.  102.  Thomas  D.  Martin.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  New 
Brunswick,  Oct.  3,  1838;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Brownsville,  Jan.  4, 
'43 — April  13,  '52;  to  Vincennes,  Oct.  5,  '69. 

No.  103.  Wm.  W.  McLain.  Cand.,  Oct.  3,  1838;  lie.  Oct. 
2,  '39;  ord.  as  Ev.,  Nov.  18,  '40;  supplied  in  Pres.  and  inst.  P.  Mt. 
Pleasant,  2d  Saturday  of  May,  '52 ;  died,  Nov.  10,  '55. 

.    No.  104.     William  Eaton.     Cand.,  Oct.  3,  1838;  lie.  April 
16,  '40;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Round  Hill,  June  17,  '41  ;    McKeesport, 


194  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

'41 ;  res.  both,  April  9,  '44;  dis.  to  Pres.  Steubenville,  Sept.  24, 
'44;  from  Pres.  Lake,  Oct.  20,  '55;  inst.  P.  Clarksburg,  Oct.  30 — 
July  I,  '57;  to  Pres.  Steubenville,  April  13,  '38. 

No.  105.     Charles  Martin.     Cand.,  April  11,  1839. 

No.  106.  Edward  F.  Brooks.  Cand.,  Oct.  3,  1839;  ^^ 
Pres.  Raritan,  April  13,  '41. 

No.  107.  Rev.  Joseph  B.  McKee.  From  Pres.  Carlisle, 
Dec.  3,  1839,  and  inst.  P.  Sewickley;  res.  April  12,  '43  ;  supply  at 
Mt.  Washington,  Brown's  ch.  and  Indian  Creek;  died,  April  18, 
'69. 

No.  108.  John  McClintock.  Licentiate  from  Washing- 
ton, Dec.  3,  1839;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  New  Providence,  Jan.  15,  '40; 
Jefferson,  June  29,  '41;  April  11,  '49,  whole  time  to  New  Provi- 
dence. 

No.  109.  Smith  F.  Grier.  Cand.,  Jan.  14,  1840;  to  Pres. 
of  New  Brunswick,  Oct.  6,  '41. 

No.  no.  J.  Adley  Calhoun.  Cand.,  April  15,  1840;  lie. 
April  II,  '44;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Round  Hill,  June  10,  '45 — '48; 
died  spring  of  '48. 

No.  III.  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson.  From.  Pres.  Hunting- 
don, April  9,  1839,  ^'"''^  ^'^st.  P.  Dunlap's  Creek,  Nov.  17,  '40, 
two-thirds  time  and  McClellandtown  one-third  time,  3d  Wednes- 
day May,  '41;  res.  April  28,  '69;  to  Pres.  Bloomington,  Oct.  5, 
'68;  D.  b. 

No.  112.  James  I.  Brownson.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  Car- 
lisle, Oct.  6,  1841;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Mt.  Pleasant,  Nov.  25.  '41; 
Greensburg,  Nov.  26,  '41;  res.  Jan.  16,  '48;  to  Washington  Pres. 
same  date  ;  D.  D. 

No.  113.  Joseph  Campbell.  Cand.,  Oct.  6,  1841;  discon- 
tinued, Oct.  5,  '48. 

No.  114.  Rev.  Andrew  Ferrier,  D.  D.  From  2d  Pres. 
New  York,  Nov.  29,  1842;  inst.  P.  Uniontown,  Nov.  30 — Aug.  6, 
'44 ;  dis.  to  Free  Church  Pres.  of  Hamilton,  Canada  West,  Oct.  8, 
'45- 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  1 95 

No.  115.  Wm.  Reed.  Cand.,  April  12,  1843;  teaching  in 
Indiana,  '45. 

No.  116.  Wm.  W.  Woodend.  Cand.,  from  Pres.  Blairs- 
ville,  Oct.  3,  1843  ;  lie.  Oct.  5,  '43;  to  Pres.  Steubenville,  April  11, 
'44;  D.  D. 

No.  117.  Rev.  James  Black,  From  Pres.  St.  Clairsville, 
Sept.  24,  1844,  S.  Supply;  to  Pres.  Winchester,  April  10,  '49. 

No.  118.  James  Black.  Cand.,  Sept.  24,  1844;  lie.  April 
15, '52  ;  taught  in  Dunlap's  Creek  Academy;  ord.  and  inst.  P. 
Connellsville,  June  14,  '53 — Dec.  2,  '59;  dis.  to  Washington,  Oct. 
2,  '60,  as  Prof.  Washington  College ;  D.  D.,  LL.  D. 

No,  119.  John  G.  Howell.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  Car- 
lisle, April  8,  1845  5  of<^-  P-  '^t  Kingvvood,  June  25,  '46;  supply 
for  region  also  ;  died,  1856, 

No.  120.  Samuel  Porter  Skiles.  April  9,  1845;  discon- 
tinued, April  12,  '55. 

No.  121.  William  C.  Smith.  Cand.,  April  10,  1845;  to 
Pres.  New  Albany,  April  14,  '52, 

No.  122.  Rev.  Richard  Graham.  From  Pres.  Chillicothe, 
June  10,  1845  ;  'list.  P.  Sewickley,  June  12,  '45 — April  10,  '50;  to 
Pres.  Maumee,  Oct.  ist,  '50. 

No.  123.  William  P.  Harshe.  Licentiate  from  Pres. 
Washington,  June  10,  1845;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Fairmount,  Aug. 
27,  '45 — April  13,  '53;  to  Pres.  Des  Moines,  Oct.  20,  '53. 

No.  124.  Ross  Stevenson.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  Ohio, 
June  10,  1845  ;  ord.  and  inst.  Connellsville,  June  13,  '45 — Oct.  6, 
'52;  to  Pres.  Blairsville  same  date;  D.  D. 

No.  125.  William  D.  Moore.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  Ohio. 
June  10,  1845  ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Long  Run,  June  II, '45 — Sept.  15, 
49;  P.  Mt.  Pleasant  and  Greensburg,  Oct.  2,  '49;  res.  Mt.  Pleas- 
ant, April  9,  '51,  whole  time  to  Greensburg;  res.  June  14,  '53;  to 
Pres,  Mississippi  same  day ;  S.  Supply  Long  Run,  '64-66 ;  chap- 
lain in  '65, 


196  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

No.  126.  Rev.  Griffith  Owen.  From  Pres.  Philadelphia, 
June  13,  1845;  inst.  P.  Uniontovvai,  June  17,  '45 — Nov.  ii,  '47, 
and  dis.  to  Pres.  Philadelphia  same  day. 

No.  127.  John  J.  Neel.  Cand.,  April  13,  1847;  ^'c.  Oct. 
4,  '48;  died,  Feb.  10,  '52. 

No.  128.  Wm.  a.  Fleming.  Cand.,  April  13,  1847;  lie. 
April  15,  '52  ;  to  Pres.  Peoria,  Oct.  4,  '53. 

No.  129.  Prosper  Hubbard  Jacob.  Licentiate  from  Pres. 
Beaver,  June  2,  1847  ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  McKeesport,  June  3,  '47 — 
Oct.  3,  '51;  to  Pres.  Coshocton,  April  13,  '52. 

No.  130.     Joseph  Gans.     Cand.,  June  3,  1847. 

No.  131.  Oliphant  M.  Todd.  Cand.,  April  13,  1848;  lie. 
April  II,  '49;  to  Cincinnati,  April  10,  '50. 

No.  132.  Rev.  Moses  A.  Williams.  From  Pres.  Georgia, 
Sept.  14,  1849;  Ji^st.  P.  Uniontown,  Nov^  21,  '49 — April  13,  '52; 
to  Pres.  California,  Oct.  7,  '57. 

No.  133.  Rev.  Lewis  A.  Lowrie.  From  Pres.  Union  C. 
P.  ch.,  Sept.  5,  1849;  <^is.  to  West  Lexington,  Ky.,  April  10,  '50. 

No.  134.  Rev.  George  Dunham.  From  Pres.  Flint  River, 
Sept.  17,  1849;  supplied  in  Pres.  ;  to  Pres.  North  Mississippi, 
April  15, '57. 

No.  135.  Wm.  J.  Burchinal.  Cand.,  Sept.  19,  1849;  P^''" 
mitted  to  relinquish  study,  because  of  impaired  health  ;  to  Pres. 
Palmyra,  Oct.  4,  '65. 

No.  136.  Rev.  James  R.  Hughes.  From  Pres.  Steuben- 
ville,  Oct.  20,  1849;  inst.  P.  Rehoboth,  Nov.  8,  '49 — Dec.  28,  '64, 
and  same  day  to  Blairsville  Pres. 

No.  137.  Nathaniel  B.  Lyons.  Cand,  April  10,  1850; 
lie.  April  12,  '55  ;  to  Pres.  New  Lisbon,  April  10,  '56. 

No.  138.  Rev.  Peter  Hassinger.  From  Huntingdon, 
April  8,  1851  ;  S.  Supply  Somerset  and  Jenner;  to  Pres.  Kaskas- 
kia,  April  12,  '53. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  1 9/ 

No.  139.  Rev.  Joseph  Smith.  From  Ohio,  June  lo,  185 1 ; 
inst.  P.  Round  Hill  same  day;  res.  Jan.  i,  '56;  inst.  P.  Greens- 
burg,  April  9,  '56;  set  over  to  Blairsville,  Oct.,  '58;  D.  D. 

No.  140.  Rev.  Frederick  A.  Shearer.  From  Pres.  Rich- 
land, June  10,  i85i;inst.  P.  Long-  Run,  June  19,  '51 — Oct.  3, 
'51;  to  Pres.  Richland,  April  14,  '52;  D.  D. 

No.  141.     Samuel  Hazlett.     Cand.,  Sept.  17,  1851. 

No.  142.  James  Caldwell.  Cand..  April  13,  1852;  lie. 
April  13,  '54;  to  Pres.  Des  Moines,  April  10,  '55. 

No.  143.  Alonzo  Linn.  Cand.,  April  13.  1852  ;  lie.  May  3, 
'54;  taught  in  Lafayette  College;  Prof,  in  Jeff.  College  and  in 
Washington  and  Jefferson  College;  to  Washington  Pres.,  '70; 
Ph.  D.,  LL.  D. 

No.  144.  Rev.  Cyrus  C.  Riggs.  From  Pres.  Steubenville, 
May  18,  1852  ;  inst.  P.  Sewickley,  June  ist — April  9,  '61  ;  dis.  at 
same  time  to  Pres.  Beaver;  D.  D. 

No.  145.  Rev.  Nathaniel  West.  From  Pres.  Ohio,  Oct. 
5,  1852;  inst.  P.  McKeesport,  May  3,  '54 — July  i,  '56,  and  dis. 
to  Pres.  Philadelphia ;  D.  D. 

No.  146.  John  A.  Mearns.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  New 
Brunswick,  Oct.  5,  '52;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Long  Run,  Oct.  19,  '52; 
died,  June  3,  '54. 

No.  147.  Rev.  James  H.  Callen.  From  Pres.  Erie,  April 
13,  1853;  '"St.  P.  Uniontown,  April  27,  '53 — April  10,  '55  ;  to  ist 
Pres.  Philadelphia,  Aug.  i,  '55. 

No.  148.  Joseph  Mateer.  Cand.,  from  Pres.  New  Bruns- 
wick, April  13,  1853  ;  lie.  April  14;  to  Pres.  Clarion,  Sept.  20,  '54. 

No.  149.  Robert  M.  Wallace.  Licentiate  from  Pres. 
Newton,  June  14,  1853;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Brownsville  and  Little 
Redstone,  June  15 — Feb.  17, '64,  and  dis.  to  Pres.  Huntingdon 
same  date. 

No.  150.  Caleb  W.  Finley.  Cand.,  June  14,  1853;  lie. 
May  16,  '55;  to  Pres.  Columbus,  Oct.  2,  '55. 


198  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

No.  151.  James  R.  Moore.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  Wash- 
ington, Oct.  5,  1853;  engaged  in  teaching;  dis.  to  West  Vir- 
ginia, May,  '63. 

No.  152.  Rev.  David  Kennedy.  From  Pres.  Ohio,  April 
12,  1854;  inst.  P.  Greensburg,  19  April — Aug.  i,  '55;  to  1st  Pres. 
New  York,  Nov.  13,  '55. 

No.  153.  Hugh  O.  Rosborough.  Licentiate  rec'd,  from 
Pres.  Washington,  Sept.  20,  1854;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  George's 
Creek,  June  5, '55;  preached  %  time  at  Mt.  Washington  for  4 
years;  at  Spring  Hill  Furnace,  12  years; at  Greensboro,  ii  years; 
still  P.  at  George's  Creek. 

No.  154.  Thomas  P.  Speer.  Licentiate  rec'd,  from  Pres. 
Ballebay,  Ireland,  Sept.  20,  1854;  dis.  to  Pres.  Huntingdon,  June 

5/55- 

No.  155.  Francis  H.  Power.  Cand.,  Sept.  20,  1854;  lie. 
May  16,  '55  ;  died,  Oct.  16,  '63;  was  in  service  of  Christian  Com- 
mission. 

No.  156.     Robert  C.  Stewart.     Cand.,  Sept.  20,  1854. 

No.  157.  Alexander  McGaughey.  Licentiate  from  2d 
Pres.  New  York,  April  10,  1855  ;  ord.  and  inst  P.  Long  Run, 
May  16,  '55 — April  29,  '63, and  dis.  to  Blairsville  Pres.  same  time. 

No.  158.  James  H.  Flanagan.  Cand.,  April  11,  1855;  lie. 
Nov.  19,  '56;  ord.  as  Ev.  to  labor  in  Mission  Ty.  of  Pres.  in  Va., 
April  14,  '58;  set  over  to  Pres.  West  Virginia,  May,  '63. 

No.  159.  John  C.  Hench.  Cand.,  April  11,  1855  ;  lie.  April 
26,  '65 ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Tent  ^  time  and  Mt.  Washington  S.  S., 
Nov.  6,  '66 — April  28,  '69;  to  Pres.  Western  Reserve,  Oct.  5,  '69. 

No.  160.  Rev.  Henry  W.  Biggs.  From  Pres.  Vincennes, 
Oct.  3,  1885  ;  inst.  Morgantown,  Nov.  2,  '55;  set  over  to  West 
Virginia,  May,  1863. 

No.  161.  Daniel  Williams.  Licentiate  Pres.  New  Lis- 
bon, Oct.  2,  1855  ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  West  Newton,  Nov.  13,  '55 — 
April  15,  '57  ;  dis.  to  Pres.  Carlisle,  April  13,  '59. 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE,  1 99 

No.  162.  Rev.  Wm.  F.  Hamilton.  From  Pres.  Ohio,  May 
13,  1856,  and  inst.  P.  Uniontown,  S.  S.  six  months  previous  ;  res. 
May  31,  '66;  dis.  to  Pres.  Blairsville,  April  29,  '68;  D.  D. 

No.  163.  Rev.  Reuben  Lewis.  From  Pres.  Blairsville, 
Sept.  19,  1856;  P.  Fairmount,  Nov.  14, '56 — April  12, '59;  dis.  to 
Pres.  Montgomery,  Oct.  4,  '59;  deceased. 

No.  164.  James  Martin.  Licentiate  2d  Pres.  Philadelphia, 
Oct.  22,  1856  and  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Round  Hill,  Nov.  19 — April 
29,  '63 ;  dis.  to  Philadelphia  same  day. 

No.  165.  Robert  F.  Wilson.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  Hun- 
tingdon, Oct.  22,  1856,  and  ord.  and  inst.  P.  McKeesport,  Nov. 
20 — May  14,  '67;  dis.  to  Pres.  Carlisle,  Jan.  21,  '68, 

No.  166.  Samuel  J.  NiccoLLS.  Cand.,  Oct.  6,  1857;  lie. 
April  14,  '59;  to  Pres.  Carlisle,  Oct.  2,  '60;  D.  D. 

No.  167.  Caleb  B.  Downs.  Cand.,  Oct.  6,  1857;  to  Pres. 
Richland,  May  9,  '60. 

No.  168.  David  Henry  Barron.  Licentiate  from  Pres. 
Allegheny  City,  April  13,  1858  ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Mt.  Pleasant, 
May  13,  '58 — Aug.  6,  '61 ;  dis.  same  date  to  Pres.  Huntingdon; 
D.  D. 

No.  169.  Wm.  Ward  Campbell.  Ch.  of  Uniontown 
cand.,  April  13,  1858  ;  lie.  April  14,  '59 ;  ord.  Oct.  5,  '59  ;  inst.  P. 
Fairmount,  Nov.,  '59 — May  14,  '62 ;  set  over  to  West  Va.,  May, 
•63. 

No,  170.  Robert  Braden  Moore.  Ch.  of  Tyrone  cand., 
April  13,  1858;  lie.  Oct.  4,  '59;  dis.  to  Pres.  Huntingdon  or  Car- 
lisle, Oct.  3,  i860;  D.  D. 

No.  171.  Watson  Russell.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  Car- 
lisle, Oct.  6,  1858;  ord.  as  Ev.  Nov.  11,  '58;  dis.  to  Pres,  Wash- 
ington, Oct  2,  '60. 

No.  172.  Luther  L.  Belden,  Cand,  from  Ch.  of  Mor- 
gantown,  Oct.  6,  1858;  lie.  April  29,  '63  ;  dis.  to  Pres.  Erie,  Oct. 
4,  '64, 


200  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

No.  173.  George  C.  Shepherd.  Cand.  from  Ch.  Mor- 
gantown,  Oct.  6,  1858. 

No.  174.  Benjamin  F.  Myers.  Licentiate  from  Pre.s.  Al- 
legheny City,  April  13,  1859;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Somerset  and  Jen- 
ner,  June  23,  '59 — May  9,  '60;  dis.  same  time  to  Pres.  Carlisle. 

No.  175.  George  Paull.  Cand.  from  Ch.  of  ConnelLsville, 
Oct.  3,  i860;  lie.  April  10,  '61;  ord.  Sept.  16,  '63,  as  Ev.  and 
Missionary;  dis.  to  Pres.  Corisco,  Africa,  Oct.  5,  '64. 

No.  176.  Noah  H.  G.  Fife.  Ch.  of  Round  Hill  cand., 
April  10,  1861  ;  lie.  June  10,  '62;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  ConnelLsville, 
April  29,  '63  ;  res.  Nov.  29,  '67;  P.  Long  Run,  June  23,  '68;  res. 
Oct.  31,  '73,  and  dis.  to  Pres.  Rock  River  same  time. 

No.  177.  Samuel  L.  Campbell.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  Al- 
legheny City,  Oct.  I,  1861;  dis.  to  Pres.  Allegheny,  April  24, 
'66 ;  changed  to  Potomac. 

No.  178.  James  G.  Patterson.  Ch.  of  Brownsville,  cand. 
rec'd,  April  22,  1862;  lie.  April  24,  '67;  dis.  to  Pres.  S.  Minne- 
sota, Sept.  8,  '68  ;  rec'd  from  Pres.  Iowa,  April  24,  'tj  ;  dis.  to 
Pres.  Columbus,  June  27,  'yj. 

No.  179.  John  C.  McClintock.  Ch.  of  New  Providence 
cand.,  April  22,  1862  ;  lie.  April  26,  '65;  dis.  to  Pres.  Iowa,  Aug. 
29,  '65  ;  D.  D. 

No.  180.  John  Br-A.nch.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  Lexington, 
July  8,  1862  ;  ord.  as  Ev.,  July  9,  '62  ;  set  over  to  Pres.  West  Va., 
May,  '63. 

No.  181.  John  L.  Lutz.  Of  Rehoboth  Ch.  cand.,  Oct.  8, 
1862;  lie.  Oct.  5,  '64;  to  Pres.  Burean,  Sept.  18,  '66. 

No.  182.  Rev.  John  M.  Barnett.  From  Pres.  St.  Paul, 
Nov.  4,  1862,  and  inst.  P.  Mt.  Pleasant;  had  preached  there  from 
Jan.  7 ;  res.  Oct.  6,  '69;  P.  Connellsville,  May  17,  '70,  till  May  31, 
'82 ;  res.  to  become  Financial  Secretary  of  W.  &  J.  College. 

No.  183.  Fred.  B.  Welty.  Cand.  April  29,  1863;  lie. 
April  23, '72;  ord.  Ev.,  April  24,  '72;  dis.  to  Pres.  Wyoming, 
Aug.  23, '72. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE,  201 

No.  184.     M.  S.  C.  KiNKAiD.     Cand.,  Oct.  6,  1863  ;  lie.  April 

26,  '65  ;  died,  March  25,  '66. 

No.  185.  Wm.  L.  Boyd.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  St.  Clairs- 
ville,  Oct.  6,  1863  ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Sewickley,  Nov.  3,  '63  ;  P. 
Tyrone,  June,  '64  ;  res.  April  23,  'Gj;  P.  Round  Hill,  May  17, 
'67 — Oct.  5,  '70;  dis.  to  Pres.  Bloomington,  Oct.  4,  '71. 

No.  186.  J.  Logan  Sample.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  Phila- 
delphia, Nov.  3,  1863;  ord.  and  in.st.  P.  Round  Hill,  April  27.  '64 
— June  14,  '66;  dis.  to  Saltsburg  Pres,  April  23,  '67. 

No.  187.  Rev.  O.  H.  Miller.  From  Pres.  Blairsville, 
April  26,  1864;  P.  West  Newton,  May  9,  '64 — Oct.  5,  '69  ;  by  re- 
construction act  of  '70.  made  a  member  of  Carlisle  Pres. 

No.    188.     Wm.  C.   Kuhn.     Cand.   from   Pres.   Ohio,  April 

27,  1864;  lie.  April  26,  '65;  to  Pres.  Huntingdon,  Oct.  2,  '67. 

No.  189.  John  W.  Gilmore.  Cand.  from  Pres.  Dubuque, 
Oct.  4,  1864;  lie.  Oct.  5,  '64;  to  Pres.  W^ashington,  April  24,  '66. 

No.  190.  RoBT.  H.  Cunningham.  Rehoboth  cand.,  Oct. 
4.  1864;  lie.  April  25,  '66;  to  Pres.  S.  Minnesota,  Oct.  2,  '6^. 

No.  191.  Albert  J.  Caldwell.  Rehoboth,  cand.,  Oct.  4, 
1S64;  lie.  April  25,  "66;  to  Pres.  Leavenworth,  Jan.  21,  '68. 

No.  192.  Joseph  H.  Stevenson.  Licentiate  from  Pres. 
Sidney,  Oct.  5,  1864;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Brownsville  and  Little 
Redstone,  Oct.  14,  '64 — April  28,  '68;  dis.  to  Pres.  Huntingdon, 
April  29,  '68;  from  Pres.  Washington,  May,  '"j^;  S.  S.  Sewickley 
and  Tyrone;  P.  Tyrone,  Nov.  14,  '76;  Scottdale,  April  13,  '"jy; 
res.  June  12,  '83  ;  dis.  to  Pres.  Cairo,  Oct.  '83. 

No.  193.     Allen  A.  Hough.     Brownsville,  cand.,  April  26, 

1865  ;  lie.  April   24,  '67  ;  to   Pres. ,  April  27,  '70;  rec'd 

from  Pres.  Steubenville,  Sept  21,  '81  ;  P.  Pleasant  Unity,  Oct.    ii, 
'81 — Sept.  29,  '86;  dis.  to  Pres.  Blairsville,  April,  '87. 

No.  194.  Rev.  Loval  Y.  Graham.  From  Pres.  Blairsville, 
Oct.  3,  1865;  P.  Rehoboth,  Oct.  11 — Sept.  25,  '71,  and  dis.  to 
Pres.  Philadelphia  Central  same  time;  D.  D. 


202  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

No.  195.  Eben.  B.  Caldwell.  Sewickley,  cand.,  Oct:  4, 
1865;  He.  Jan.  22,  '68;  to  Pres.  Wooster,  April  27,  '69;  deceased. 

No.  196.  Rev.  W.  W.  Ralston.  From  Pres.  Baltimore, 
April  24,  1867;  inst.  P.  Uniontown,  April  28,  '6"] — Oct.  i,  '72; 
dis.  to  Pres.  Dayton,  Oct.  2,  '72;  D.  D. 

No.  197.  Rev.  A.  B.  Fields.  From  Pres.  Westmoreland 
U.  P.,  Oct.  I,  1867;  P.  Connellsville,  Feb.  ii,  '68 — June  i,  '69; 
dis.  Oct.  5,  '69,  to  Pres.  Findley;  rec'd  from  Pres.  Clarion,  April 
19,  '81  ;  S.  S.  Brownsville,  June,  '81,  for  two  years;  dis.  to  Pres. 
Pueblo,  June,  '83;  deceased. 

No.  198.  Rev.  J.  K.  Andrews.  From  Pres.  Steubenville, 
Oct.  16,  1868;  P.  Sewickley,  Dec.  8,  '68— April  26,  '71,  and  dis. 
to  Pres.  Shenango  same  time. 

No.  199.  Jos.  Rogers  Wilson.  Dunlap's  Creek,  cand., 
Oct.  16,  1868;  lie.  April  28,  '69;  to  Pres.  Bloomington,  Oct.  4, 
'70;  D.  D. 

No.  200.  H.  Oliphant  Gibbons.  Ch.  of  Canonsburg, 
cand.,  April  27,  1869;  lie.  April  28,  '75 ;  dis.  Pres.  Baltimore,  Oct. 
3.  '76. 

No.  201.  Rev.  E.  P.  Lewis.  From  Pres.  Highland,  April 
27,  '69;  S.  S.  Brownsville;  dis.  to  Washington  Pres.,  April  24,  '73. 

No.  202.  Rev.  G.  M.  Hair.  From  Pres.  Baltimore,  Oct.  6, 
1869;  P.  McKeesport,  Nov.  9,  '69 — Aug.  20,  '72;  P.  Rehoboth, 
Dec.  20,  '72 — June  i,  '74;  dis.  '74;  deceased. 

No.  203.  Rev.  James  Power  Fulton.  From  Pres.  Beaver, 
Nov.  2,  1869,  and  inst.  P.  Dunlap's  Creek  and  McClellandtown; 
res.  Oct.  2,  '78  ;  dis.  to  Pres.  Larned,  Kansas,  April  22,  '79. 

No.  204.  Rev.  George  Scott.  From  Pres.  Steubenville, 
April  27,  1870;  S.  S.  Little  Redstone;  dis.  to  Pres.  Allegheny, 
June  27,  '71. 

No.  205.  Rev.  Henry  Fulton.  From  Pres.  Zanesville, 
April  27,  1870;  P.  West  Newton,  June  12,  '70 — June  4,  '74;  dis. 
to  Pres.  Blairsville,  Oct.  21,  '76. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  203 

No.  206.  John  McMillan,  D.  D.  From  Ref.  Pres.  of 
Pittsburg,  June  16,  1870,  and  inst.  P.  Mt.  Pleasant  and  Pleasant 
Unity;  res.  Pleasant  Unity,  April  25,  '71 ;  whole  time  to  Mt.  P., 
town  and  country;  res.  Mt.  Pleasant,  Oct.  8,  '73;  whole  time  to 
Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion;  res.  Dec.  24,  '78;  dis.  to  Pres.  Philadel- 
phia, Jan.  28,  '79. 

No.  207.  Robert  H.  Fulton.  Brownsville  Ch.,  cand., 
Oct.  4,  1870;  lie.  April  26,  '71 ;  to  Pres.  Baltimore,  April  24,  '72  ; 
D  D. 

No.  208.  Rev.  Asahel  Bronson,  D.  D.  From  Pres.  Troy, 
April  25,  1871 ;  S.  S.  for  Jefferson,  '7-;  S.  S.  Mt.  Vernon,  till  '80; 
preached  one  or  two  years  in  W.  Va. ;  H.  R.,  April  '19,  '81 ;  died, 
Dec.  2S,  '82. 

No.  209.  Rev.  Thomas  S.  Parke.  From  Pres.  Allegheny, 
April  26,  1871  ;  inst.  P.  Tyrone  and  Harmony,  June  27,  '71 ;  res. 
H.,  April  23,  '73  ;  res.  Tyrone,  April  29,  '75  ;  S.  S.  Dawson,  Sept. 
19,  '76;  to  Pres.  Steubenville,  April  24,  'yy. 

No.  210.     John  S.  Plumer.     McKeesport  Ch.,  Cand.,  April 

26,  1 871;    delayed  by  ill  health ;   dis.   Pres.  Allegheny,  April  25, 
'82. 

No.  211.  Rev.  John  Turbitt.  From  Oswego  Cong. 
Asso.,  June  27,  1871 ;  supplied  in  Pres.  two  or  three  years;  went 
west ;  wrote  he  could  not  preach  for  ill  health  ;  name  stricken 
from  roll  as  accepted  minister,  June  26,  'yj. 

No.  212.     J.  D.  Caldwell.     Round  Hill  Ch.,  cand.,  June 

27,  187 1  ;  lie.  April  23,  '73  ;  dis.  '74. 

No.  213.  Rev.  Wm.  Edgar.  From  Pres.  Blairsville,  about 
1870;  S.  S.  Somerset  and  Jenner,  till  June,  '72  ;  outside  bounds 
of  Pres.  for  some  time;  dis.  to  Pres.  Pittsburg,  Oct.  4,  ''j6\  de- 
ceased. 

No.  214.  Rev.  Augustus  Cone.  From  Pres.  Highland, 
Oct.  17,  1871 ;  P.  Pleasant  Unity,  spring  of  'yi;  res.  June  17,  '73  ; 
dis.  Dec.  6,  '74- 


204  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

No.  215.  Rev.  Wm.  F.  Kean.  From  Pres.  Allegheny. 
April  23,  1872;  declined  call  to  Sewickley  ;  S.  S.  about  6  mos. ; 
dis.  to  Pres.  Blairsville,  Dec.  31,  '72;  deceased. 

No.  216.  R.  R.  Gailey,  Licentiate  from  Pres.  Wooster, 
April  24,  1872;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Little  Redstone  and  Fayette 
City,  June  11, '72;  res.  Fayette,  June  15,  '75;  ^^^-  Little  Red- 
stone, June  II,  '79;  inst.  P.  Laurel  Hill,  Sept.  12,  '79;  res. 
March  13,  '82;  dis.  Pres.  Steubenville,  April  24,  '82. 

No.  217.  Wm.  N.  Sloan.  Cand.  from  Pres.  Wooster, 
April  24,  1872;  lie.  April  24,  '72;  dis.  to  Pres.  Pittsburg,  April 
22,  '73. 

No.  218.  Rev.  John  B.  Dickey.  From  Pres.  Steubenville, 
June  II.  1872  ;  inst.  P.  Round  Hill,  June  25;  res.  April  25,  'yj; 
dis.  to  Pres.  West  Virginia,  April  23,  '78. 

No.  219.  Rev.  George  K.  Scott.  From  Pres.  Blairsville, 
Oct.  21,  '72;  called  to  Sewickley,  April  22,  'y^,  ;  not  installed;  S. 
S.  till  about  Dec.  '73;  dis.  May  12,  '74. 

No.  220.  Rev.  James  W.  Wightman.  From  Pres.  Pitts- 
burg, Dec.  31,  1872,  and  inst.  P.  McKeesport;  res.  Aug.  14,  'yy, 
and  dis.  to  Pres.  Louisville ;  D.  D. 

No.  221.  Wm.  S.  Fulton.  Dunlap's  Creek  Ch.,  cand., 
April  22,  1873;  lie.  April  29,  '74;  dis.  to  Pres.  Erie,  April  27,  '75. 

No.  222.  Rev.  John  W.  Martin,  D.  D.  From  Pres.  Steu- 
benville, April  23,  1873  ;  S.  Supply  Tent  and  Fairchance,  Oct.,  '73  > 
dis.  to  Pres.  Steubenville,  March.  'y$  ;  deceased. 

No.  223.  Rev.  Samuel  S.  Gilson.  From  Pres.  Louisville, 
April  28,  1874;  inst.  P.  Uniontown,  May  2,  '74  I  'G-'^-  J'-"^e  10,  '79; 
dis.  to  Pres.  Steubenville,  Oct.  16,  '80. 

No.  224.  Rev.  J.  W.  Little.  Rec'd  Pres.  Pittsburg,  April 
28,  1874;  inst.  P.  Long  Run,  May  1 1,  '74;  I'es.  May  i,  '75  ;  dis.  to 
Pres.  Allegheny,  Oct.  29,  '75. 

No.  225.  Wm.  F.  Ewing.  Licentiate  rec'd,  from  Pres.  Kit- 
tanning,  April  29,  1874;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Mt.  Pleasant,  June  4, 
'74;  res.  June  12,  '83  ;  died,  Dec.  15,  '83. 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  205 

No.  226.  Wm.  W.  McLane.  Licentiate  rec'd,  from  Pres. 
Kittanning,  April  29,  1874;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Brownsville,  May 
13,  '74;  res.  June  25,  '78;  dis.  June  26,  to  Pres.  of  Steubenville. 

No.  227.  David  B.  Rogers.  Licentiate  rec'd,  from  Pres. 
Steubenville,  April  29,  1874;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Greensboro,  May 
12,  '74;  res.  Dec.  29,  '74;  S.  S.,  Tent  and  Fairchance  and  P.,  May 
18,  '75,  till  Nov.  14,  '76,  and  dis.  to  Pres.  Washington,  same  time; 
rec'd  from  Pres.  Steubenville,  April,  '84;  P.  Dunbar,  '84 — July  9, 
'86;  dis.  to  Pres.  Lehigh,  same  time. 

No.  228.  A.  Fulton  Boyd.  Licentiate  rec'd,  from  Pres. 
Butler,  April  29,  1874;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Pleasant  Unity,  June  26, 
'74 ;  res.  April  25,  'yy  ;  inst.  P.  Rehoboth,  Aug.  30,  'yy;  res.  Dec. 
II,  '83  ;  dis.  to  Pres.  Mahoning,  same  date. 

No.  229.  Rev.  Abram  B.  Lowes.  Rec'd  Pres.  Cincinnati, 
Oct.  6,  1874;  inst.  P.  Bellevernon,  Oct.  28,  '74;  res,  Oct.  3,  '82; 
dis.  Pres.  Pittsburg,  Oct.,  '83. 

No.  230.  Jacob  Ruble.  Of  Spring  Hill  Furnace  Ch., 
cand.  rec'd,  Oct.  7.  1874;  lie.  April  24,  '78 ;  ord.  as  Ev.,  June  11, 
'70;  S.  S.  one  year  at  Sewickley  ;  inst.  P.,  May  18,  '80;  su.spended, 
Oct.  18,  '81 ;  restored,  Sept.,  '88. 

No.  231.  Rev.  Marcus  Wish  art.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Pitts- 
burg, Oct.  17,  1874;  inst.  P.  Rehoboth,  Oct.  28,  '74;  res.  April 
25,  'yy;  dis.  to  Pres.  Erie,  Oct.  2,  'yy. 

No.  232.  Rev.  John  C.  Meloy.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Steu- 
benville, Dec.  29,  1874;  inst.  P.  West  Newton,  Dec.  29,  '74. 

No.  233.  Rev.  Robert  T.  Price.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Alle- 
gheny, April  27,  1875  ;  inst.  P.  Dunbar,  May  27,  '75  ;  res.  May 
15,  '83;  to  Pres.  Wooster,  May,  '83. 

No.  234.  Rev.  John  W.  Scott,  D.  D.  Rec'd  from  Pres. 
Dayton,  April  27,  1875  ;  S.  S.  at  Jefferson  till  Oct.  19,  '81 ;  H.  R. 

No.  235.  Wm.  L.  Ledwith.  Brownsville  Ch.,  cand.  rec'd, 
April  29.  1875;  lie.  April  26,  'y6;  dis.  to  Pres.  Westminster,  April 
25.  '77- 

No.  236.     Alex.  C.  Wilson,     McClellandtown  Ch.,  cand. 


206  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

rec'd,  Oct.  6,  1875;  lie.  April  26,  '76;  dis.  to  Pres.  Ottawa,  April 
23,  '78. 

No.  237.  Rev.  Wm.  P.  Moore.  Rec'd,  April  25,  1876, 
from  Pres.  Allegheny ;  inst.  P.  Long  Run,  June  13,  '76;  res.  Jan. 
2,  '83 ;  dis.  to  Pres.  Wooster  same  day. 

No.  238.  Charles  B.  Wakefield.  Bellevernon  Ch.,  cand. 
rec'd,  April  26,  1876;  lie.  April  24,  '78;  S.  S.  Somerset,  Jenner 
and  Mt,  Washington;  ord.  and  inst.  P.,  June  7,  '80;  res.  Oct.  6, 
'80;  inst.  P.  Fairchanee  and  Springhill  Furnace,  June  22,  '81; 
res.  Nov.  15,  '81 ;  dis.  to  Pres.  Erie,  same  day. 

No.  239.  WiNFiELD  C.  Scott.  Dunlap's  Creek  Ch.,  cand. 
rec'd,  Oct.  21,  1876;  lie.  April  24,  '78;  dis.  to  Pres.  Solomon, 
Kansas,  April  22,  '79. 

No.  240.  George  L.  Deffenbaugh.  George's  Creek,  cand. 
rec'd,  Oct.  21,  1816;  lie.  June  27,  '"jy;  ord.  as  Ev.,  Oct  2,  '78; 
Miss'y  to  Nez  Perces  Indians ;  dis.  to  Pres.  of  Oregon  same  day. 

No.  241.  Rev.  S.  S.  Bergen.  From  Pres.  Austin,  Texas, 
Oct.  21,  1876;  S.  S.  Somerset,  Jenner  and  Mt.  Washington;  inst. 
P.  Tent  and  Fairchanee,  Aug.  4,  '78 ;  inst.  P.  McClellandtown  y^ 
of  time,  July  19,  '79;  res.  Fairchanee,  June  8,  '80;  res.  Tent  and 
McClellandtown,  April  i,  '82;  inst.  P.  Laurel  Hill,  Aug.  5,  '82; 
res.  April  18,  '88  ;  dis.  to  Pres.  Huntingdon,  May,  '88. 

No.  242.  Rev.  Samuel  McBkide.  Rec'd  Pres.  of  Newark, 
Oct.  19,  1877;  inst.  P.  McKeesport,  ist,  Nov.  13,  ''j'j\  res.  Nov. 
II,  '79;  suspended,  June  14, '81  ;  name  stricken  from  the  roll, 
Oct.  19,  '82. 

No.  243.  Rev.  Wm.  G.  Nevin.  Rec'd  Pres.  of  Mononga- 
hela  U.  P.,  Nov,  13,  1877;  P.  Sewickley,  Dec.  3,  'yy,  till  Dec.  24, 
'78 ;  P.  Dunlap's  Creek,  between  Jan.  i  and  April  22,  '79,  till 
April  24,  '83;  P.  Brownsville,  May  8,  '83,  till  Sept.  24,  '84;  P. 
Rehoboth  4th  Tuesday  Oct ,  '84,  till  Jan.  24,  '%'] ;  dis.  to  Shenan- 
go  Pres.  same  day. 

No.  244.  Rev.  Robert  White.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  North- 
umberland, April  23,  1878;  S.  S.  Pleasant  Unity  till  Oct.  6,  '80; 
called  but  not  installed;  dis.  to  Pres.  Steubenville,  Dec.  14,  '80. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  20/ 

No.  245.  George  D.  Buchanan.  Cand.  rec'd,  from  Pres. 
of  Marion,  April  22.  1879;  called  to  Round  Hill ;  S.  S.  for  some 
months  ;  dis.  to  Pres.  of  Baltimore,  Oct.  8,  '79. 

No.  246.  Rev.  A.  S.  Milholland.  Rec'd  from  Pres. 
Wooster,  April  22,  '79;  S.  S.  Brownsville,  called  but  not  install- 
ed; inst.  P.  Uniontown,  Jime  15,  '80;  D.  D. 

No.  247.  John  I.  Blackburn.  Rehoboth,  cand.,  Oct.  2, 
1878;  lie.  April  28,  '80;  dis.  to  Pres.  Blairsville,  April  19,  '81. 

No.  248.  Harry  O.  .Scott.  Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion  Ch., 
cand.  rec'd,  June  ii,  1879;  lie.  same  day;  dis.  to  Pres.  Nebraska 
City,  Oct.  5. '80. 

No.  249.  Rev.  James  D.  Shanks.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Steu- 
benville,  Jan.  20,  1880,  and  inst.  P.  Round  Hill  same  day;  res. 
Dec.  1 1,  '83  ;  dis.  same  time  to  Pres.  Philadelphia  Central. 

No.  250.  Rev.  Charles  C.  B.  Duncan.  Rec'd  from  Pres. 
West  Virginia,  April  27,  1880;  inst.  P.  Little  Redstone,  May  20, 
'80;  res.  June  i,  '82;  S.  S.  Somerset  and  Jenner  till  Sept.  23,  '85, 
and  Mt.  Washington,  April,  '85  ;  dis  to  Pres.  Peoria,  Sept.  23,  '85. 

No.  251.  Rev.  S.  L.  Finney.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  WestChes- 
ter,  April  28,  1880;  inst.  P.  Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion,  May  13,  '80; 
res.  Nov.  i,  '82  ;  dis.  to  Pres.  W.  Virginia,  Oct.  'S^,;  deceased. 

No.  252.  Rev.  George  N.  Johnston.  Rec'd  from  Pres, 
Steubenville,  Oct.  5,  1880;  inst.  P.  McKeesport.  Dec.  21,  '80 ;  res. 
April  22,  '84,  and  dis.  to  Pres.  Pittsburg  same  date. 

No.  253.  Charles  P.  Cheeseman.  Plaingrove  Ch.,  cand. 
rec'd,  April  19,  1881  ;  lie.  June  19,  '81 ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Long 
Run,  June  25,  '83  ;  S.  S.  Mt.  Vernon,  April,  '85. 

No.  254.  Archibald  B.  Herries.  McKeesport  Ch.,  cand. 
rec'd,  June  14,  1881  ;  lie.  April  25,  '83  ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Leisen- 
ring,  April  22,  '84,  till  Aug.  17,  '85  ;  dis.  to  Pres.  Bloomington, 
Sept.,  '85. 

No.  255.  Wm.  Rhodes  Ruble.  Springhill  Furnace  Ch., 
cand.  rec'd,  June  14,  1881 ;  withdrew  by  advice  a  year  or  two  af- 
terwards. 


208  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

No.  256.  F.  M.  Collier.  McKeesport  Ch.,  cand.  rec'd, 
Sept.  21,  1 88 1  ;  lie.  April  28,  '86  ;  dis  to  Pres.  of  Gunnison,  Sept. 
27,  '^7. 

No.  257.  Rev.  J.  T.  Crumrine.  Rec'd  from  Cong'l  Asso- 
ciation of  Worcester,  Mass.,  June,  1882;  P.  Little  Redstone  and 
Fayette  City,  June  26,  '83 — Sept.  23,  '85  ;  dis.  to  Pres.  Wellsbor- 
ough  same  day. 

No.  258.  Rev.  A.  Z.  McGogney.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Blairs- 
ville,  Oct.  3,  1882;  P.  Connellsville,  Oct.  25,  '82— Sept.  28,  '86; 
dis.  to  Pres.  Peoria  same  time. 

No.  259.  Rev.  M.  C.  Bailey.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Carlisle, 
Oct.  3,  '82;  P.  Tent,  Fairchance  and  McClellandtown,  Oct.,  '83; 
Ph.  D. 

No.  260.  Rev.  Perrin  Baker.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Kittan- 
ning,  April,  1883  ;  P.  Bellevernon,  April  24,  '83. 

No.  261.  Rev.  H.  H.  McMaster.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Alle- 
gheny, June,  1883;  P.  Dunlap's  Creek,  June,  '83 — Sept.  25,  '88, 
and  dis.  to  Pres.  Ft.  Dodge  same  time. 

No.  262.  Rev.  John  D.  Owens.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Hun- 
tingdon, Oct.  1883  ;  P.  Sewickley,  Oct.  ii,  '83 — April  28,  '85  ;  dis. 
to  Pres.  Steubenville,  Jan.,  '86. 

No.  263.  Rev.  John  M.  Jenkins.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Woos- 
ter;  Oct.,  1883;  P.  Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion,  Oct.  16,  '83 — April  13, 
'85  ;  dis.  to  Pres.  Melbourne,  Australia,  same  time. 

No.  264.  Rev.  E.  S.  Robinson.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Blairs- 
ville,  April,  1884;  P.  Scottdale,  May  8,  '84— Jan.  25,  '86;  dis.  to 
Pres.  Portsmouth  same  day. 

No.  265.  Rev.  M.  H.  Bradley.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Pitts- 
burg, Sept.,  1884;  P.  Mt.  Pleasant,  Oct.  7,  '84— April  28,  '86; 
dis.  to  Pres.  Lima,  Sept.,  '86. 

No.  266.  Rev.  J.  J.  McCarrell,  Rec'd  from  Pres.  St. 
Clairsville,  Sept.,  1884;  inst.  P.  McKeesport,  fall  of  '84. 

No.  267.     Rev.  N.  G.  White.     Rec'd  from  Pres.   Hunting- 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  20g 

don,  April,  1885  ;  supply  at  Dawson,  Tyrone  and  Wheeler  Mis- 
sion, Connellsville;  H.  R. 

No.  268.  Rev.  Brainerd  T.  DeWitt.  Rec'd  from  Pres. 
Erie,  April,  1885  ;  P.  Round  Hill,  May  27,  '85. 

No.  269.  Rev.  S.  E.  Elliott.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Southern 
Dakota.  April,  1886;  P.  Mt.  Pleasant  Reunion,  May  10,  '86. 

No.  270.  Alex.  S.  Hunter.  Licentiate,  from  Pres.  Wash- 
ington, April  28,  1886. 

No.  271.  H.  C.  Morledge.  Licentiate,  from  Pres.  Steu- 
benville;  rec'd,  April  27,  1886;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Leisenring,  June 
17,  '86. 

No.  272.  George  P.  Donehoo.  Licentiate  Pres.  Pittsburg, 
rec'd,  Sept.  28,  1886;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Mt.  Pleasant,  Oct.   8,  '86. 

No.  273.  Rev.  Boyd  M.  Kerr.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Woos- 
ter,  April,  1887;  S.  S.  Brownsville  i  year;  inst.  P.  May  2,  '8S. 

No.  274.  Robert  F.  Smith.  Licentiate  from  Pres.  She- 
nango  ;  rec'd  and  ord..  May  26,  1887;  inst.  P.  Pleasant  Unity, 
June  1 1,  '87. 

No.  275.  A.  W.  Emmons.  Lie.  April  27,  1887;  ord.  and 
inst.  P.  Sewickley,  May  26,  'Sy. 

No.  276.  Rev.  W.  A.  Edie.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Beaver  Val- 
ley, U.  P.,  and  inst.  P.  Connellsville,  May  19,   1887. 

No.  277.  Rev.  Z.  B.  Taylor.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Clarion, 
May,  1887;  P.  Scottdale,  July  13,  'Sy. 

No.  278.  Rev.  S.  F.  Farmer,  D.  D.  Rec'd  from  Pres. 
Highland  and  inst.  P.  Rehoboth,  June  30,  1887. 

No.  279.  Rev.  Wm.  G.  Stewart.  Rec'd  from  Pres,  Alle- 
gheny, Sept.,  1887;  P.  Dunbar,  Oct.  18,  '87. 

No,  280.  Rev.  C.  J.  Forsythe.  Rec'd  from  Pres.  Balti- 
more, April,  1888;  P.  Greensboro  and  Jefferson,  May  23,  '88, 

No,  281,  Rev.  Joseph  L.  Hunter.  Licentiate  rec'd,  from 
Pres.  Shenango ;  ord.  and  inst.  P.  Tyrone  and  Dawson,  May  8, 
1888. 


210 


PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 


PRESENT  MINISTERS  AND  CHURCHES. 


MINISTERS  AND  LICENTIATES 

John  W.  Scott,  D.  D.,  H.  R. 
N.  Grier  White,  H.  R. 
John  McCh'ntock,  P. 
S.  F.  Farmer,  D.  D.,  P. 
H.  O.  Rosborough,  P. 
John  M.  Barnett,  Fin.  Sec. 
Boyd  M.  Kerr,  P. 
A.  S.  Milholland,  D.  D.,  P. 
John  C.  Meloy,  P. 
Brainerd  T.  DeWitt,  P. 
Wm.  G.  Stewart,  P. 
Joseph  J.  McCarrell,  P. 
Perrin  Baker,  P. 
Wm.  A.  Edie,  P. 
Samuel  E.  ElHott,  P. 
M.  C.  Bailey,  Ph.  D..  P. 


ADDRESS. 

Washington,  D.  C 
New  Haven,  Pa. 
Carmichaels,  Pa. 
Bellevernon,  Pa. 
Smithfield,  Pa. 
Washington,  Pa. 
Brownsville,  Pa. 
Uniontown,  Pa. 
West  Newton,  Pa. 
Elizabeth,  Pa. 
Dunbar,  Pa. 
McKeesport,  Pa. 
Bellevernon,  Pa. 
Connellsville,  Pa. 
Mt.  Pleasant,  Pa. 
Fairchance,  Pa. 


CHURCHES. 


Chas.  P.  Cheeseman.  P.         Circleville,  Pa. 


Z.  B.  Taylor,  P. 
C.  J.  Forsythe,  P. 

H.  C.  Morledge,  P. 
G.  P.  Donehoo,  P. 
Robert  F.  Smith,  P. 
A.  W.  Emmons,  P. 
Joseph  L.  Hunter,  P. 

Jacob  Ruble. 

J.  B.  Reed,  Pres.W.Va.,  P.  E. 


New  Providence,  P. 
Rehoboth,  P. 
George's  Creek,  P. 

Brownsville,  P. 

Uniontown,  P. 

West  Newton,  P. 

Round  Hill,  P. 

Dunbar,  P. 

McKeesport,  P. 

Bellevernon,  P. 

Connellsville,  P. 

Mt.  P.  Reunion  P. 

Fairchance,  P. 

Tent,  P. 

McClellandtown,  P. 

Long  Run,  P. 

Mt.  Vernon,  P. 

Scottdale,  P. 

Greensboro,  P. 

Jefferson,  P. 

Leisenring,  P. 

Mt.  Pleasant,  P. 

Pleasant  Unity,  P. 

Sewickley,  P. 

Tyrone,  P. 

Dawson,  P. 
Wymp's  Gap,  Pa. 
Laurel  Hill,  Pa.     Laurel  Hill,  P.  E. 


Scottdale,  Pa. 
Greensboro,  Pa. 

Leisenring,  Pa. 
Mt.  Pleasant,  Pa. 
Pleas'nt  Unity,  Pa. 
West  Newton,  Pa. 
Dawson,  Pa. 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  211 

F.  M.  Collier,  licensed,  April  28,  1886;  dismissed  to  the 
Presbytery  of  Gunnison,  Sept.  27,  1887. 

Alex.  S.  Hunter,  licentiate  (in  tr.) 

Vacant :  Dunlap'fi  Creek,  Spring  Hill  Furnace,  Somerset, 
Mt.  Washington,  Jenner,  and  Fayette  City. 

CANDIDATES. 

H.  H.  Ryland,  Spring  Hill  Furnace,  Sept.  22,  1884. 

C.  L.  V.  McKee,  Laurel  Hill,  April,  1885. 

J.  P.  Blackburn,  Rehoboth,  April  28,  1886. 

R.  A.  Herwick,  Rehoboth,  April  28,  1886. 

Jacob  Humbert,  Tent,  June  17,  1886. 

J.  B.  Wallace,  Mt.  Pleasant,  Sept.  29,  1886. 


SKETCHES. 


An  earnest  effort  was  made  to  secure  likenesses  of  the  early 
fathers  of  the  Presbytery  and  also  members  of  more  recent  date. 
This  effort  has  only  been  partially  successful.  Of  some  there 
were  no  likenesses  in  existence  The  original  of  Dr.  Fairchild 
was  an  old  time  daguerreotype,  excellent  at  first  and  a  precious 
heirloom,  but  injured  so  as  to  prevent  its  being  successfully 
copied.  Judge  Ewing's  phototype  does  not  do  him  justice.  It 
was  photographed  from  an  oil  painting  and  then  phototyped. 

The  phototypes  of  Dr.  Campbell  and  Joseph  Paull  will  be 
readily  recognized  by  all  who  knew  them.  Of  the  excellence  of 
the  steel  engravings  of  Rev.  Joel  Stoneroad,  Rev.  George  Paull, 
Redstone's  representative  on  Africa's  soil  and  Hon.  Jasper  M. 
Thompson,  we  need  not  speak. 


212  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

The  brief  sketches  already  given  of  Dr.  Fairchild  in  the 
histories  of  George's  Creek  and  the  Tent,  renders  but  httle  addi- 
tional notice  necessary. 

Rev.  H.  O.  Rosborough,  the  successor  of  Dr.  Fairchild  at 
George's  Creek,  and  a  warm  personal  friend,  .says:  "Dr.  Fair- 
child  was  born  at  Hanover,  N.  J.,  May  ist,  1795.  He  was  the 
youngest  of  six  children.  His  father  died  when  he  was  but 
seven  years  old,  and  his  training  devolved  on  his  mother,  who 
survived  until  1824.  She  was  a  woman  of  remarkable  gifts  and 
was  greatly  distinguished  for  the  strength  of  her  faith  and  her 
unusual  activity  and  usefulness  in  the  Church  of  Christ.  She 
presented  Ashbel  in  childhood  to  the  Lord  as  an  offering  in  the 
work  of  the  ministry  and  his  education  throughout  was  con- 
ducted with  this  high  and  holy  end  in  view.  He  began  his  clas- 
sical studies  in  Morristown,  N.  J.,  when  but  thirteen  years  of  age. 
He  spent  one  year  in  Princeton  College,  graduating  in  Septem- 
ber, 181 3.  He  .studied  Theology  in  Princeton  Seminary  and 
was  licensed  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Jersey,  April,  1816." 

The  following  is  a  part  of  the  action  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Redstone  in  regard  to  Dr.  Fairchild: 

Resolved,  ist,  "That  this  Presbytery  devoutly  acknowledge 
the  hand  of  God  in  the  removal  from  us  and  from  his  endeared 
family  and  the  field  of  his  abundant  labors  and  eminent  useful- 
ness, our  beloved  and  venerated  father,  the  Rev.  Ashbel  Green 
Fairchild,  who  departed  this  life  on  the  30th  of  June,  1864,  in 
the  seventieth  year  of  his  age  and  the  forty-ninth  of  his  public 
labors  in  the  Gospel. 

Resolved,  2d,  "That  we  regard  the  life  and  death  of  Dr. 
Fairchild,  so  fruitful  through  grace,  in  righteousness  and  peace, 
as  bringing  great  glory  to  God  and  abounding  good  fruits  to  the 
Church  of  Christ.  We  would  especially  note  his  writings  pub- 
lished by  our  Board,  as  'The  Great  Supper,'  'Scripture  Baptism,' 
'Unpopular  Doctrines'  and  'What  Presbyterians  Believe,'  which 
discuss  and  defend  the  doctrines  involved,  with  such  ability  and 
popular  effect.  'The  Great  Supper'  has  been  translated  and  pub- 
lished in  the  German  language  and  has  proved  to  be   one  of  the 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  213 

most  popular  works  published  by  the  Board,  and  is  universally  re- 
garded as  one  of  the  very  best  definers  of  our  peculiar  doctrines 
extant. 

Resolved,  3d,  "That  *  *  *  *  such  were  his  gifts  of 
understanding  and  memory  ;  his  general  information  and  discrim- 
inating taste  ;  his  knowledge  of  the  Scriptures  in  the  original 
tongues  and  in  our  common  version,  and  such  his  spiritual  in- 
sight of  divine  things  and  deep  religious  experience  and  fervency 
of  spirit,  that  his  pulpit  exercises  were  of  the  most  pleasing  and 
edifiying  character.'" 

The  Presbytery  also  speaks  of  his  high  social  character,  and 
dignified,  yet  genial  disposition,  and  kindly  manner  and  attrac- 
tive and  instructive  conversation. 


REV.  JOEL  STONEROAD. 


In  addition  to  the  sketch  given  in  the  supplement  to  the 
History  of  Laurel  Hill  Church,  we  give  an  extract  from  the  ad- 
mirable memorial  prepared  by  Rev.  Wm.  F.  Hamilton,  D.  D., 
who  for  a  number  of  years  was  a  fellow  Presbyter  and  a  neighbor 
of  Mr.  Stoneroad's: 

"Of  the  many  exemplary  traits  which  adorned  the  character 
of  Mr.  Stoneroad  as  a  Christian  man  and  as  a  minister  of  the 
Gospel,  little  need  be  said.  He  was  very  generally  known 
throughout  this  region,  and  none  who  knew  him  had  any  diffi- 
culty in  determining  his  real  character.  There  was  no  conceal- 
ment, no  mystery  enveloping  him.  It  was  felt  by  all  that  he  was 
just  what  he  seemed  to  be,  and  that  his  character  was  that  of  an 
honest,  faithful,  devoted  servant  of  God  in  the  ministry  of  his 
Son  Jesus  Christ.  If  those  most  intimately  acquainted  with  him 
were  a.sked  to  point  out  his  distinguishing  traits,  they  would 
probably  agree  in  mentioning  two  as  more  conspicuous  than  any 
others.  One  of  these  was  his  thorough  conviction  and  steadfast 
maintenance  of  the  infallible  truth  of  all  Scriptural  teachings,  and 
consequently  the  truth  of  some  doctrines  which  many  refuse  to 


214  PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 

accept.  In  the  depths  of  his  heart  he  was  sincerely  and  unwa- 
veringly orthodox.  He  honestly  believed  God's  word,  not  as 
doubtingly  and  compromisingly  interpreted,  but  as  clearly  and 
definitely  formulated  in  the  accepted  creeds  of  the  Church  in 
which  it  was  his  privilege  to  exercise  his  ministry.  And  this 
gave  character  to  his  preaching.  What  he  believed,  he  spake. 
No  truth  was  kept  back  because  of  men's  enmity  to  it.  Nothing 
was  suppressed  because  unpopular.  Nothing  was  passed  over 
because  difficult.  Nothing  was  rejected  because  it  confounded 
human  reason.  He  declared  God's  whole  counsel,  and  did  it 
honestly,  ingenuously.  No  one  could  say  that  there  was  any  un- 
certainty in  the  sound  of  the  Gospel  trumpet  as  blown  by  him. 
The  other  most  noticeable  trait  distinguishing  him  was  his  abun- 
dant zeal  in  the  ministry  which  he  had  received  of  the  Lord  Je- 
sus, prompting  him  to  such  labors  and  hardships  and  self-deni- 
als as  fall  within  the  experience  of  but  a  limited  number  of 
Christ's  ministers." 

When  the  relation  between  Mr.  Stoneroad  and  the  Church 
of  Laurel  Hill  was  dissolved,  April  24th,  1878,  on  account  of  his 
failing  health,  Presbytery 

Resolved,  ist,  "That  we  recognize  in  our  co-Presbyter  a 
brother  beloved,  who,  for  forty-eight  years,  has  shown  himself  to 
be  a  workman  that  needeth  not  to  be  ashamed,  and  a  watchman 
upon  the  walls  of  Zion,  whose  laborious,  earnest  and  faithful  ser- 
vices, the  Head  of  the  church  has  largely  blessed  in  the  conver- 
sion of  souls,  and  in  comforting  and  establishing  believers  in  the 
faith  once  delivered  to  the  saints. 

Resolved,  2d,  "That  our  relations  and  intercourse  with 
Brother  Stoneroad  have  been  such  as  greatly  to  endear  him  to 
us  and  furnish  occasion  to  us  to  hold  him  in  affectionate  and  de- 
served remembrance. 

Resolved,  3d,  "That  we  deeply  sympathize  with  him  in  his 
feebleness  and  impaired  health,  and  do  earnestly  pray  that  in 
honorably  retiring  from  a  laborious  and  successful  ministry,  the 
remnant  of  his  days  may  be  crowned  with  domestic  and  social 
joys  and  with  the  sweet  consolations  of  that  Gospel  of  Peace 
which  he  has  proclaimed  to  others  and  above  all   with   the  com- 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE.  21 5 

forting  presence  of  Him  who  has  said:     'Lo  I  am   with  you  al- 
way,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world.'  " 

Mr.  Stoneroad  tarried  a  few  years  longer  patiently   waiting 
for  the  salvation  of  God,  until  at  length,   having  survived  nearly 
all  the  associates  of  his  early  ministry,   he  entered   into   rest  on 
the  iith  of  August,  1884,  in  his  79th  year. 
'         "Servant  of  God,  well  done! 

Rest  from  thy  loved  employ ; 
The  battle  o'er,  the  vic'try  won, 
Enter  thy  Master's  joy." 


REV.  GEORGE  PAULL. 


George  Paull  was  the  third  son  of  Joseph  and  Eliza  Lea 
(Rogers)  Paull  and  was  born  near  Dunbar,  Fayette  county.  Pa., 
February  3d;  1837.  Like  so  many  of  Pennsylvania's  noblest 
men  his  early  life  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm.  His  early 
training  was  in  the  home,  the  common  and  the  Sabbath  School. 
He  began  his  classical  studies  with  Rev.  Ross  Stevenson,  D.  D., 
pastor  of  Connellsville  Presbyterian  Church  and  continued  them 
in  Dunlap's  Creek  Presbyterial  Academy,  and  afterward 
with  Prof  John  Frazer,  who  became  Professor  of  Math- 
ematics in  Jefferson  College  and  a  General  in  the  Union  army. 
He  entered  Jefferson  College  at  Canonsburg  and  graduated  with 
high  credit  in  1858,  in  the  twenty-first  year  of  his  age.  In  the 
spring  of  1853,  during  a  revival  in  College,  he  decided  for  Christ 
and  made  a  public  profession  of  religion  in  the  Church  at  Con- 
nellsville. He  spent  three  years  at  the  Western  Theological 
Seminary  and  was  ordained  and  devoted  his  life  to  mission  work 
in  Africa.  A  very  interesting  memoir  was  written  by  his  uncle, 
Rev.  Samuel  Wilson,  D.  D.,  and  published  by  the  Presbyterian 
Board,  to  which  the  reader  is  referred  for  information  in  regard 
to  his  interesting,  consecrated  and  useful,  though  brief  life.  The 
action  of  Presbytery  on  his  death  is  added  to  this  notice.     This 


2l6  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

action  was  reported  by  a  Committee  and  adopted,  October  19th, 
1865. 

"Whereas,  It  has  pleased  Almighty  God,  in  His  inscruta- 
ble providence  to  remove  by  death  from  the  field  of  Foreign 
Missions  a  young  brother  greatly  beloved,  and  who  had  shown 
himself  so  eminently  fitted  by  nature  and  grace  for  the  great 
work  to  which  God  and  the  church  had  called  him;  and  whereas, 
he  was  born  and  reared  among  us  and  by  this  Presbytery  set 
apart  to  the  work  of  the  ministry  in  a  foreign  missionary  field; 
and  whereas,  his  self-consuming,  untiring  devotion  to  the  Mas- 
ter's cause  not  only  reflected  great  honor  upon  the  Gospel  of 
God,  but  also  on  this  body  by  whom  he  was  given  to  the  foreign 
service  of  the  church  ;  therefore 

"Resolved,  ist.  That  while  as  a  Presbytery  we  record  with 
gratitude  to  God  the  gift  of  one  to  the  church  so  specially  quali- 
fied for  the  great  work  to  which  he  had  conscrated  his  life,  we 
would  at  the  same  time  bow  with  profound  submission  to  the 
mysterious  behest  which  summoned  him  so  soon  and  so  sudden- 
ly from  the  service  and  labors  of  the  church  militarrt  to  the  high- 
er and  holier  service  of  the  church  triumphant. 

"Resolved,  2d,  That  in  the  life  and  labors  of  our  departed 
brother,  we  recognize  a  spirit  akin  to  that  of  a  Brainerd,  an  Elli- 
ott, a  Schwartz — akin  to  the  spirit  of  Him  who  said :  'The  zeal 
of  thine  house  hath  eaten  me  up' — a  zeal  for  the  salvation  of 
bleeding  Africa,  which  prematurely  and  almost  literally  con- 
sumed the  vessel  in  which  it  burned — a  love  for  the  souls  of  men 
and  the  glory  of  God,  which  many  waters  could  not  quench — 
which  quailed  at  no  sacrifice  however  great,  and  could  say  with 
the  great  Apostolic  Missionary  to  the  Gentiles,  'neither  count  I 
my  life  dear  unto  myself,  so  that  I  might  finish  my  course  with 
joy,  and  the  ministry  which  I  have  received  of  the  Lord  Jesus, 
to  testify  the  Gospel  of  the  grace  of  God.' 

"Resolved,  3d,  That  while  Presbytery  would  bewail  the 
loss  to  benighted  Africa  of  so  burning  and  shining  alight,  whose 
inchoate  and  earliest  labors  on  the  mainland  were  signalized  with 
remarkable  and  immediate  success  in  the  conversion  of  souls,  we 
would  also  record  our  unfeigned  condolence  and   sympathy  with 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  21/ 

the  honored  parents  and  other  friends  in  the  early  demise  of  such 
a  relation  and  son,  divinely  assured  that  however  great  their  loss 
to  him  it  was  unutterable  gain."  Minutes  Redstone  Presbytery, 
October  19th,  1865. 


DR.  CAMPBELL  AND  JUDGE   EWING. 


It  is  proper  to  add  some  additional  items  in  regard  to  Dr. 
Campbell  and  Judge  Ewing.  In  the  history  of  Uniontown 
Church,  prepared  by  Rev.  S.  S.  Gilson,  there  is  this  record : 
"October  the  9th,  1825,  is  a  date  long  to  be  remembered  by  this 
congregation.  It  was  then  that  the  two  young  men,  Dr.  Hugh 
Campbell  and  Nathaniel  Ewing.  Esq.,  came  for  the  first  time  to 
the  Lord's  Table.  Together  they  followed  Christ  with  reverence 
and  Godly  fear  for  almost  half  a  century.  These  men  were  prop- 
erly regarded  as  the  pillars  of  the  church  in  their  day,  and  it  is 
hardly  possible  now  to  unduly  exalt  their  influence  as  Christian 
citizens.  They  were  also  exceedingly  useful  in  the  higher  courts 
of  the  Church  to  which  they  were  so  frequently  delegates.  In- 
deed, it  came  to  be  said  in  Presbytery  in  regard  to  the  Commis- 
sioners to  the  General  Assembly,  'it  was  Dr.  Campbell  one  year 
and  Judge  Ewing  the  next.'  Dr.  Campbell  was  a  member  of  the 
famous  General  As.sembly  which  met  in  Pittsburg  in  1838,  at  the 
time  of  the  disruption.  A  man  of  far  more  than  ordinary  abili- 
ty, he  made  his  influence  felt  in  that  body.  During  the  discus- 
sion he  arose  and  made  a  remark  or  two  which  attracted  atten- 
tion. Some  Doctor  of  Divinity  made  a  remark  which  combed 
him  a  little,  and  wanted  to  know  who  is  'this  young  David?' 

"The  doctor  arose  and  said :  'I  am  a  very  humble  el- 
der from  a  very  humble  Church  and  a  very  humble  Presbytery, 
but  I  thank  God  I  have  the  same  rights  on  this  floor  as  the  most 
learned  Doctor  of  Divinity  or  the  greatest  lawyer  here.'  He 
then  proceeded  to  score  his  unfortunate  antagonist  in  a  speech  of 
wonderful  keenness,  which  electrified  the  Assembly.  He  was  an 
excellent  and  impressive  speaker  and  his  addresses  on  the  sub- 
ject of  Temperance  were  very  eloquent.'  " 


2l8  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

The  following  tribute  was  prepared  by  his  life-long  friend, 
Nathaniel  Ewing,  and  offered  and  adopted  in  session :  "For 
more  than  thirty-five  years  Dr.  Campbell  has  exercised  continu- 
ously the  office  of  Ruling  Elder  in  this  church  with  uniform  ac- 
ceptance and  eminent  ability  and  faithfulness.  During  this  long 
period  his  exemplary  walk,  the  abundance  of  his  benefactions, 
exertions  and  prayers,  and  his  diligent  and  scrupulous  discharge 
of  official  duty,  contributed  largely  to  the  maintenance,  growth 
and  establishment  of  the  church.  By  the  eminence  of  his  gifts, 
also,  he  was  enabled  to  perform  effective  service  for  the  general 
interests  of  the  Master's  cause  by  sitting,  on  frequent  occasions, 
as  a  member  in  each  of  the  the  Superior  Judicatories." 

These  words  apply  also  with  equal  force  to  Judge  Ewing  as 
descriptive  of  his  life  and  service.  For  almost  forty-one  years 
he  was  a  member  of  the  Session  of  Uniontown  Ch.irch  and  very 
often  a  member  of  some  of  the  higher  courts.  The  compiler  of 
this  well  remembers  to  hear  his  father  speak  of  a  General  Assem- 
bly of  which  Judge  Ewing  was  a  member.  Some  knotty  ques- 
tion was  before  the  body.  Difficulties  increased  and  no  one 
seemed  to  know  what  to  do,  when  Judge  Ewing  got  up  and  in  a 
few  minutes  cleared  away  the  difficulties,  so  that  the  Assembly 
finished  the  business  readily  and  properly.  He  acquired  great 
influence  in  the  Assembly  and  perhaps  the  most  important  ser- 
vice of  this  kind  ever  rendered  was  a  report  which  he  made  on 
the  decision  of  Judge  Rodgers,  of  the  Nisi  Prius  Court  at  Phila- 
delphia, against  the  Presbyterian  Church.  This  report  is  record- 
ed in  full  in  the  Minute  Book  of  the  Presbytery,  covering  six 
pages. 

Judge  Ewing  acquired  large  wealth  and  gave  liberally  to  the 
Lord  without  letting  his  right  hand  know  what  the  left  did.  He 
chiefly  gave  his  benefactions  while  he  lived  and  was  personally 
attentive  to  the  wants  of  the  poor  of  this  community  who  were 
brought  to  his  notice. 

He  was  President  Judge  of  the  County  Court  and  a  Ruling 
Elder  in  the  church,  and  his  son,  Hon.  John  K.  Ewing,  was  also 
President  Judge  and  is  a  Ruling  Elder  in  the  same  church.  His 
grandson,  Nathaniel  Ewing,  is  keeping  up  the  succession,  being 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  2I9 

President  Judt^e  in  the  county  and  a  Ruling  Elder  in  the  church 
of  his  grandfather  and  his  father. 


JOSEPH   PAULL. 


Among  all  those  who  have  served  in  the  eldership  of  Red- 
stone Presbytery,  no  man  was  more  respected  and  beloved  than 
Joseph  Paull.  He  descended  from  an  honored  ancestry.  The 
first  records  in  the  Paull  family  date  back  to  1765,  eleven  years 
before  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  and  speak  of  George 
Paull  as  a  resident  of  Berkeley  county,  Va.,  who,  with  his  wife, 
Martha  Irwin,  four  years  later,  in  1769,  removed  to  Fayette  coun- 
ty, Pa.,  locating  a  tract  of  land,  which  has  been  transmitted  from 
father  to  son  for  four  generations,  and  is  still  in  possession  of  the 
family.  His  son  was  Col.  James  Paull,  Sr;,  who  was  married  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  Rogers,  and  was  a  distinguished  citizen  of  Fay- 
ette county  up  to  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1841.  Joseph 
Paull,  the  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth,  was  born  in  the  old  home- 
stead, in  November,  1808,  and,  with  the  exception  of  two  or 
three  years,  spent  all  his  life  in  the  place  of  his  birth.  He  Avas 
married,  June  4th,  1833,  to  Miss  Eliza  Lea  Rogers,  by  whom  he 
became  the  father  of  ten  children,  some  of  whom  have  attained 
to  prominent  positions  in  the  world;  his  second  son,  Aaron, 
killed  in  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  was  a  rising  young  lawyer  in  the 
State  of  Texas ;  his  third  son,  George,  went  as  a  missionary  to 
Africa,  and  died  two  years  after  his  arrival,  and  his  remains  lie 
buried  on  the  Island  of  Corisco;  his  daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth, 
is  the  wife  of  Rev.  N.  H.  G.  Fife,  of  Sterling,  111.,  one  of  the 
most  successful  pastors  in  the  State  of  Illinois;  his  son,  Joseph 
Rogers,  is  an  Attorney-at-Law  and  Judge  of  the  Circuit  Court 
in  the  city  of  Wheeling,  Va.,  and  his  son  James  L.,  is  a  Ruling 
Elder  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Connellsville,  Pa. 
Mr.  Paull  dated  the  beginning  of  his  religious  life  from  a  Metho- 
dist camp-meeting,  where  he  was  converted  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
one  years.  Soon  after,  he  united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Tvrone  and  afterwards  with  Laurel  Hill.     He  was   elected  a 


220  PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 

Ruling  Elder  in  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Connellsville  and 
became  a  member  of  that  church  in  1832,  and  continued  to  ex- 
ercise the  office  to  which  he  was  called  until  1874.  In  the  last 
named  year  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Dunbar  was  constituted 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Redstone  on  the  petition  of  the  members 
of  Connellsville  Church  in  that  place  and  vicinity  and  Mr.  Paull 
was  transferred  as  an  elder  to  the  new  organization  and  served 
with  great  efficiency  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  February  14th, 
1880.  He  was  a  man  of  rare  intelligence,  wise  in  counsel,  care- 
ful in  the  exercise  of  his  official  duties,  and  most  exemplary  as  a 
Christian.  He  was  of  the  most  Christ-like  spirit,  never  failing 
to  impress  any  and  all  with  whom  he  was  brought  in  contact, 
with  the  fact  not  only  that  there  is  a  reality  in  the  religion  of 
Jesus,  but  also  that  there  is  in  it  a  beauty  and  power.  The  tones 
of  his  voice,  the  benevolence  of  his  countenance  and  the  mani- 
fest spirit  of  deep  piety  running  through  all  his  conversation, 
gave  an  impression  to  those  who  were  about  him  that  they  had 
been  in  a  most  sacred  companionship.  His  death  was  the  result 
of  a  complication  of  painful  diseases,  but  through  all  his  illness 
his  faith  never  for  a  moment  wavered.  The  final  scene  resem- 
bled the  death  of  one  of  the  old  patriarchs;  a  weeping  family,  tri- 
umphant faith  in  Christ,  calm  and  peaceful  resignation  and  de- 
vout prayer  from  the  lips  of  the  dying  father  in  Israel.  He 
more  than  once  represented  his  church  in  Synod  and  was  also  a 
member  of  the  General  Assembly.  In  the  memorial  year  (though 
his  miss  onary  son  was  sleeping  in  the  soil  of  the  "Dark  Conti- 
nent") he  gave  a  large  thank  offering  to  the  Lord  for  the  privilege 
of  having  had  a  son  in  the  Foreign  Mission  work.  The  prayer 
of  the  writer  is,  that  the  spirit  of  Joseph  Paull  may  rest  upon  the 
entire  eldership  of  the  Redstone  of  to-day. 


JASPER  MARKLE  THOMPSON. 


Jasper  Markle  Thompson  was  born  in  Mason  county,  Ken- 
tucky, August  30th,  1822,  having  been  left,  by  the  death  of  his 
parents,  to  the  care  of  relatives.     Before  he   was  three   years  of 


Sngfjjy  WBTtnU&Sins i: Sa7:-lzt^  Sii  i' 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE.  221 

a<^e  he  was  taken  to  Mill  Grove,  Westmoreland  county,  Pa.,  the 
home  of  his  grandmother,  Mrs.  Mary  Markle,  where  he  remained 
until  her  death  in  1832,  after  which  he  made  his  home  for  eighteen 
years  with  his  cousin,  Gen.  Cyrus  P.  Markle. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  married  in  1846  to  Miss  Eliza  Caruthers, 
youngest  daughter  of  Samuel  Caruthers,  a  Ruling  Elder  in  the 
Presbyterian  Church  of  Sewickley,  Westmoreland  county,  Pa., 
and  came  to  this  place  in  1848.  He  united  by  examination  and 
profession  of  his  faith  with  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Union- 
town,  January  25th,  185 1.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  a 
ruling  elder  of  this  church  by  the  Rev.  Wm.  F.  Hamilton,  D.  D., 
on  the  4th  of  March,  i860.  He  was  a  commissioner  to  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  which  met  in  Albany,  N.  Y.,  in  1868,  and  was 
again  sent  to  the  Assembly  which  met  at  Madison,  Wis.,  in  1880. 
He  is  a  director  of  the  Western  Theological  Seminary  and  also 
a  Trustee  of  Washington  and  Jefiferson  College. 

Mr.  Thompson  has  not  only  been  prominent  and  successful 
in  business  and  public  life,  but  also  active  and  efficient  as  an  offi- 
cer in  the  church  and  Presbytery. 


ADDITIONS  AND  CORRECTIONS. 


On  page  35  in  the  history  of  Mt.  Pleasant  Church,  after  the 
resignation  of  Rev.  James  I.  Brownson,  it  should  be  added  that 
the  churches  of  Greensburg  and  Mt.  Pleasant  called  the  Rev. 
Wm.  D.  Moore,  September  15th,  1849,  ^^'^^  at  that  time  was  pas- 
tor at  Long  Run.  Mr.  Moore  asked  counsel  of  the  Presbytery 
and  acting  on  its  advice  accepted  the  calls  and  was  installed  pas- 
tor over  the  united  congregations  on  the  first  Tuesday  of  Octo- 
ber.    In  April,  1851,   he   was   called   to   Greensburg  for  all   his 


222  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

time.  Accepting  this,  his  relation  with  Mt.  Pleasant  was  dis- 
solved on  the  9th  of  April. 

Rev.  Wm.  Wylie  McLain  was  installed  pastor  on  the  second 
Saturday  of  May,  1852.  This  relation  continued  until  terminated 
by  the  death  of  Mr.  McLain,  November  loth.  1855. 

Mr.  David  Henry  Barron,  a  licentiate  of  the  Presbytery  of 
Allegheny  City,  was  received,  April  13th,  1858,  and  called  to 
Mt.  Pleasant.  He  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor,  May 
13th.  Mr.  Barron  was  called  to  Hollidaysburg  and  Presbytery 
severed  the  relation,  August  6th,  1861. 

The  connection  of  J.  P.  Blackburn  with  the  Presbytery  (see 
page  211)  ceased  sometime  ago. 

CORRECTIONS. 

Page  64,  for  "Mr.  J.  A.  Means,"  read  Mr.  J.  A.  Mearns. 

Page  115,  seventh  line  from  the  top,  "Thursday"  should  be 
Tuesday. 

Page  i6i,"Alvira  M.  Fromier"  should  be  Alvira  M.  Fernier 
and  "Mary  C.  Aler"  should  be  Mary  C.  Alter. 

Page  180,  "Mrs.  Fulton  Price"  should  be  Mrs.  R.   T.   Price. 

Page  188,  No.  47,  for  "Thomas  Hurst,"  read  Thomas  Hunt. 

Page  193,  No.  99,  "1838"  should  be  1837. 

Page  203,  No.  211,  at  the  close,  for  "accepted,"  read  a  de- 
posed. 

Page  217,  fourteenth  line  from  the  bottom,  read  Philadelphia 
instead  of  "Pittsburg." 


PRESB^'TERV    OF    REDSTONE.  222  (a) 


THE  HON.  JASPER  M.  THOMPSON. 


Since  the  foregoin<^  sketch  was  pubhshed,  and  while  this 
book  was  in  the  hands  of  the  binder,  the  community  was  sadly- 
surprised  and  shocked  by  the  announcement  of  the  death  of  the 
Hon.  J.  M.  Thompson,  which  occurred  on  the  evening  of  March 
15th,  1889.  About  six  weeks  previous,  Mr.  Thompson  had  gone 
South  to  look  after  some  business  interests,  and,  during  his  ab- 
sence, had  taken  a  severe  cold,  which,  causing  a  violent  attack  of 
pneumonia,  resulted  in  his  death  about  five  hours  after  his  return. 
He  evidently  felt  that  the  disease  would  prove  fatal  and  seemed 
anxious  to  hasten  back  to  his  family  and  familiar  friends  before 
he  should  be  finally  overtaken  b}'  the  relentless  messenger,  and, 
on  entering  his  home,  after  being  kindly  cared  for  b)'  his  loved 
ones  and  his  physician,  expressed  himself  as  ready  to  depart,  if 
it  were  the  Lord's  will  to  call  him  away.  He  is  gone,  as  we  be- 
lieve, to  the  reward  of  those  who  trust  implicitly  in  the  Redeem- 
er and  Saviour  of  men. 

Mr.  Thompson  was  a  man  of  most  generous  impulses,  broad, 
philanthropic,  conservative  and  kind.  Schooled  to  hard  labor  him- 
self, he  knew  how  to  sympathize  with  those  who  were  honestly 
obliged  to  contend  with  poverty  and  battle  with  the  world  for  a 
livelihood;  to  all  such  he  was  ever  ready  to  lend  a  helping  hand. 
It  would  be  indeed  difficult  to  find  one  in  any  community  whose 
personal  influence  has  been  exerted  in  so  many  directions  and  to 
so  great  a  variety  of  usefulness.  Whenever  an  opportunity  was 
had — and  often  he  created  the  opportunit\' — Mr.  Thompson  was 
ready  to  speak  a  word  for  Christ,  to  direct  the  erring  in  the  paths 
of  righteousness,  to  comfort  the  sorrowing,  to  pray  with  and  for 
the  sick  and  the  d}'ing,  and  to  lead  all  to  Him  who  is  able  to 
save.  He  was  a  plain,  unassuming,  substantial  man  ;  a  well  bal- 
anced, consistent,  affable,  Christian  gentleman  ;  universall)'  re- 
spected,  honored  and   loved  ;    living,  because  of  his  peculiarly 


222(b)  PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 

approachable  disposition  and  sympathetic  natural  way,  near  the 
hearts  and  affections  of  the  people.  Often  prevailed  upon  and 
appointed  by  Presbytery  to  preach  in  our  pulpits,  he  did  so  ac- 
ceptably and  with  profit  to  all.  He  was  not  only  a  helper  but  a 
leader  in  every  good  work  and  enterprise,  secular  and  religious. 
In  his  remarkabl)^  industrious,  successful  and  exemplary  life,  we 
have  this  valuable  truth  most  fully  demonstrated,  that  a  man  may 
be  diligent  in  business,  yet  fervent  in  spirit,  serving  the  Lord. 

At  its  meeting,  March  27th,  1889,  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Washington  and  Jefferson  College,  took  action  in  regard  to  the 
death  of  Mr.  Thompson,  one  of  its  members,  March  15th,  1889, 
and  recorded  its  high  estimate  of  Mr.  Thompson  as  a  successful 
business  man,  eminent  for  his  public  spirit  and  zeal  in  good  works 
and  Christian  manhood  and  his  fidelity  and  efficiency  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board. 


ADDITIONAL  CORRECTIONS. 

Page  116:  3d  line  should  be,  His  first  wife  was  a  daughter 
of  Rev.  Joseph  Smith  and  sister  of  Rev.  David  Smith,  &c.  And 
5th  line:     She  was  an  aunt  of  Rev.  Joseph  Smith,  D.  D.,  &c. 

Page  129:  13th  line  from  the  bottom  should  read,  Until 
after  181 5. 

In  the  Index,  page  184,  after  the  name  of  James  R.  Hughes, 
belongs  to  the  name  of  James  Hughes,  above. 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 


223 


INDEX. 


Adams,  Jas  .  73,  87.94,98.  186 
Additions  and  Corrections,  221 
Addison,  Alexander  ...  6 
Aid  for  Students  ....  15 
A^^nevv.John  Holmes,  116,  191 

Allen,  Bela 192 

Allen,  Moses 74 

Allison,  Alexander    ...       2 

Allison,  Hector 2 

Allison,  Judfje 12 

Anderson,  Rev.  Mr.  ...  2 
Anderson,  S.  McC,  D.  D.,  65 

Andrews,  Jolin 190 

Andrews,  J.  K.  .  .  .31,  202 
Andrews,  Mrs.  R.  E.  P.  .180 
Annan,  Wm.,D.  D.,  30,  145,  193 
Armstron<^,  John    .    .    .  71,  75 

Armstrons^,  Wm yS 

Baber,  James  ....  74,  193 
Bailey,  M.   C,   Ph.  D.,  97, 

103,   138,  141,   154,  208. 

156,  210 

Bailie,  Mrs.  Anna   .    .    .    .174 

Baird,  Aaron 26 

Baird,  Miss  Maggie    ...     28 

Baird,  Robert 25,  26 

Baker,  Perrin,  158,  160,  162, 

208,  210 

Bain.  Pienry 16,  93 

Barclay,  David  ....  16,  189 

Barclay,  Heniy yS 

Barnett,  John  M.,  22,  35,  36, 

.  .  132,  149,  169.  200,  210 
Barnett,  Mrs.  J.  M.  .  .  .175 
Barr,  Samuel  ....  9,  184 
Barret,  Elisha  D.,  M.  D.  .191 
Barron,  U.  H.,  D.  D.,  149,  199 


Beatty,  Charles 2 

Beatty.C.C,  D.  D.,  L.L.  D.,  22 

Belden,  Luther 199 

BeIl,Wm.  G 192 

Belle  Vernon  Church,  160 — 163 
Bergen,  S.  S.,  37,  49,  93.  96, 
.    .     102,  137,  144,  156,206 

Bethel  Chapel 50 

Biggs,  Henry  W 198 

Black,  Jas.,  D.  D.,   L.L.  D.. 

132,  195 

Black,  John 186 

Black,  James 195 

Blackburn,  John  L      .    .    .  207 

Blackburn,  J.  P 211 

Boggs,  John 188 

Boughner,  Daniel  .  .  .  .111 
Boughner,  A.  V.  .  .  .  .110 
Boyd,  Wm.  L.,  31,  53,  57.  201 
Boyd,  A.  F.  .   .    .  60,  150,  205 

Boyd,  John 186 

Bradley,  M.  H.     .    .    .  36.  208 

Branch,  John 200 

Brice,  John  .  .  .8,61,73,184 
Bristol,  Cyrus  B.   .    .    .75,192 

Brooks.  A.sa 16,189 

Brooks,  Edward  F.  .  .  .194 
Bronson,  Asahel,  D.  D.,  69, 

154.203 

Brownson,  James  L,  D.  D., 

•    •     II,  19.  35.  36,  149.  194 
Brownsville  Church,  127 — 130 

Brown's  Church 143 

Buchanan,  George  D.    .    .  207 

Burchinal,  Wm.  J 196 

Buston,  Rev.  Mr 104 

Cataba  War-path    ....    98 


224 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 


Caldwell,  James 197 

Caldwell,  A.  J 201 

Caldwell,  Eben  B 202 

Caldwell,  J.  D 203 

Caldwell,  John 2 

Calhoun,  J.  Y 68 

Calhoun,  J.  Adley    .    .  56,  194 

Callen,  J.  H 118,  197 

Campbell,   Dr.   Hugh,   120, 

211,  217 

Campbell,  Allen  D.  .  .  .189 
Campbell,  Benjamin  .    .    .123 

Campbell,  James 191 

Campbell,  Joseph  .  .  .  .194 
Campbell,  Samuel  .  .  .  .141 
Campbell.  Samuel  L.     .    .  200 

Campbell,  W.  W 199 

Candidates  for  Ministry,  83,  89 
Canon,  Col.  John    ....     12 

Catechising 29 

Centennials 21,  83 

Chalfant,  George  ....  26 
Chambers,  Joseph  H.,  75,  193 
Chartiers  Church  ....  4 
Cheeseman,    C.   P.,   60,  66, 

....     153,  154,  207,  210 
Chestnut,  T.  M.  .   .  *.    .    .132 
Church,  Presbyterian,  Its  In- 
fluence   21 

Churches  Organized  ...  20 
Churches,  Names  of .    .    .       9 

Churches,  Old 21 

Churches,  New 20 

Churches  Transferred,  19.73,74 
Churches  Vacant  .  .  .  9,  211 
Clark,  John  .    .    .  6,  8,  61,  183 

Clark,  H.  S 127 

Coe,  James 188 

Cochran,  James  .  .  .  35,  130 
Collier,  Frank  M.   .    .  208,  211 

Colleges,  Early 12 

Collections 15 

Cone,  A 150,  203 

Connellsville  Church,  130 — 133 


Court  House 12 

Contributions  ,  ,  14,  23,  179 
Crumrine,  J.  T.  .91,  157,  208 
Cunningham,  R.  H.   .    .    .201 

Davis,  George ^8 

Davis,  Henry 93,  96 

Davis,  James  .  .  .  •  75,  193 
Davis,  Thomas  .    .    .    .  16,  190 

Dawson  Church 172 

Deffenbaugh,  George  L.  .  206 
De  Witt,  B.  T.,  55,  57,  209,210 
Dickey,  J.  B.,  57,  102,   141, 

156,  204 

Dodd,  Cephas,  M.  D.  .  '.  73 
Dodd,  Thaddeus,  4,  6,  11, 

•  • 68,  73.  183 

Doddridge 72 

Donegal    Church  (Pleasant 

Grove  now) 19 

Donehoo,   E.   R 132 

Donehoo,  Geo.  P.,  34,  209,  210 

Downs,  Caleb  W 199 

Duffield,  George  ....  2 
Dunbar  Church,  133,  167 — 171 
Duncan,  J.  K.  .  .  .120,  140 
Duncan,    C.   C.   B.,  91,  93, 

96,  144.  157.207 

Dunham.  George    .    .    .    .196 
Dunlap,  Matthew   .    .    .    .190 
Dunlap,  James,  D.  D.,  6,  9, 
26,    37,   41,   44,     53,    73, 
99,  114,  183. 
Dunlap's  Creek  Church,  3, 

25,   29,  211 

Early  Colleges 12 

Eaton,  Wm.  M 70 

Eaton,  Wm.  .  .  56,  104,  193 
Eaton,  S.  J.  M.,  D.  D.  .  .  22 
Edgar,  Wm.  .  .  .  93,  96,  203 
Edie,  W.  A.,  130,  132,  209,  210 

Education 10,  15 

Elliott,  S.  E.,  163,  165,  209,  210 
Emmons,  A. W^,  29,  32,  209,  210 
Espy,  Hugh 121 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE, 


22:; 


Ewin^^,  JohriT 191 

Ewintj,  Hon.  Nathaniel,  121. 

....  125,  21 1,  217,  218 
Ewing,  Hon.  Nathaniel,  Jr.,  218 
Ewing,  Hon.  John   K.,  22, 

114,    123,   218 

Ewing,  W.  F 36,  204 

Fairchance     Church,     loi, 

154 — 156 

Fairchild,  Ashbel  G.,  D.  D., 
16,  87,  99,  1 10,  140,  154, 

189,    211,212 

Falling  Exercises  .  .  9,  39,  73 
Farmer,  S.  F.,  D.  D.,  58,60, 

158,    209,  210 

Fayette  City   Church,   157, 

' 88,  210 

Ferrier,  Andrew,  D.  D.,  1 17, 194 
Fields,  A.  B.  .  .  129,  132,  202 
Fife,  N.  H.  G.,  65,  132,200,219 
Finley,  Robert,  .  .  .73,  192 
Finley,  James,  3,  25,  55,  58, 

61,    86,   183 

Finley.  Robert  M.,  86,  93, 

95,  184 

Finley,  Caleb  W 197 

Finley,  Ebenezer  .  .  ,  ,  28 
Finney,  S.  L.     ,    ,    .    165,  207 

First  Settlers 2 

Flannagan,  J.  H 198 

Fleming,  \Vm.  A 196 

Flenniken,  John 75 

Flenniken,  James    ,    ,    ,    ,     75 

Flenniken,  R.  P 75 

Flenniken,  Hannah  ...  75 
Forsythe,  C.  J,  .  1 13,  209,  2IO 
Frontis,  Stephen  .  .  .  92,  95 
Fulton,  Henry  .  .  .  149,  202 
Fulton,   James   P.,   27,   48, 

49.  137,  202 

Fulton,  Robert  H.     .    .    .  203 

P'ulton,  Wm.  S 204 

Gailey,  R.  R.,  49,  91,  157,  204 
Galbraith,  James 187 


Gaus,  Joseph 196 

Gault,  W.  F 53 

George's  Creek  Church,  84 — 89 

Gibbons,  H.  0 202 

Gill,  \V.  H 107 

Gilland,  Charles  and  Mary,  70 
Gillespie,  John,  D.  D.  .  .  22 
Gillect,    N.   H.,   20,  56,  59, 

75.  192 

Gilmore,  John  W,  .  .  .  .201 
Gilson,  S.  S.,  114,  119,204,217 

Given,  Andrew 186 

Glade's      Church,      (called 
Muddy  Creek,  now  New 

Providence) 72 

Graham,  James  .  .  16,92,  187 
Graham,  Richard  ....  30 
Graham,  L.  Y.,  D.   D.,   59, 

93,  96,   161,  201 

Greensburg  Church  ...  19 
Greensboro  Church,   iio — 113 

Grier,  Smith  F 194 

Guthrie,  James,    16,41,  44, 

53-  75.   130,   187 

Hale,  Wm yy 

Hamilton,    Rev.  W.  B.  and 

Wife 179 

Hamilton,  W.  F..  D.  D.,  22, 

.   •.    ,    .    .23,  118,  199,  213 

Hanna,  John 11 

Hair,  G.   M.,  59,   107,  154, 

162,  202 

Harper,  Samuel 76 

Harper,  Joseph 191 

Harshe,  Wm.  P 195 

Hassinger,  Peter  .  93,  96,  196 
Hawkins,  John  L.  .    .  132,  193 

Hazlett,  Samuel 197 

Hench,  J.  C.  .  .  102,  155,  198 
Henderson,  Joseph,  9,  16,  186 
Henry,  Robert  .  .  .  75,  191 
Henshaw,  James  ....  49 
Herries,  A.  J.  ...  173,  207 
Herron, Francis, D.D.  16.92, 188 


226 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 


Herwick,  R.  A 2ii 

Hill,  George    .    .  7,  9,  16,  185 

Hill,  Samuel 105 

Hough,  A.  A.         .    .  150,  201 

Howell,  John  G 195 

Hughes,  James  .  .  7,  8,  ii,  73 
Hughes,    Watson,    20,    30, 

146,    191 

Hughes,  James  R.,   20,  59, 

146,    184,  196 

Hughes,  Thomas  E.  .  .  .  8 
Hughes,  Thomas    ....     69 

Humbert,  Jacob 211 

Hunt,  Thomas  .  .16,  92,  188 
Hunter,  Joseph  L.,   22,  54, 

172,  209,  210 

Hunter,  A.  S.  .  .  129,  209,  210 
Indian  Creek  Church  .  55,  133 

Indians 5-55-72 

Jacob,  Prosper  H.  .    .  105,  196 

Jacob's  Creek 55 

Jeffers,  W.  H.,  D.  D..  L.L.  ' 

D 22 

Jefferson  Church  .  .  .  68 — 70 
Jenkins,  John  M.  .  .165,  208 
Jenner  Church,  19,  94 — 97,  21 1 
Jennings,  Jacob,   M.   D.,  7, 

9.26,  73,  90,  185 

Johnston,  Alexander  .  .  '.  130 
Johnston,  Geo.  N.  .  .  109,  207 
Johnston,  John  W.  .  .  .192 
Johnston,   Wm.,   16,  26,  90, 

128,   188 

Johnston,  Robert,  16, 56, 59,  189 
Junkin,D.  X.,  D.  D.  .    .    .      4 

Kaine,  Mrs.  E.  J 180 

Kean,  Wm.  F 204 

Kennedy,  David 198 

Kerr,  B.   M.,  89,   91,    127, 

129,  209,  210 

Kibler,  Joseph 120 

Kinkaid,  M.  S.  C 201 

Kirkpatrick,  John  H.  .  .  .  190 
.Kuhn,  Wm.  C 93,  201 


Laird,  Francis  ...  8,  16,  186 
Laurel  Hill  Church  .    .  -^j — 52 

Ledwith,  Wm.  L 205 

Lee,  Robert  .  .  .  .  8,  16,  188 
Leisenring  Church  .  173 — 174 

Lewis,  E.  P 129,  202 

Lewis,  Reuben 199 

Lewis,  Thomas 120 

Linn,  Alonzo 197 

Little,  John  W.  .  .  .  6(),  204 
Little  Redstone  .    .  26,  89 — 91 

Log  College 16 

Logan,  S.  C 107 

Long  Run  Church  .  .  60 — 70 
Loomis,  Aretus  .  .  .  16,  189 
Loring,  Miss  Sophia  .  174,  177 

Lowes,  A.  B 162,  205 

Lowrie,  Lewis  A.    .  '.    .    .196 

Lutz,  John  S 200 

Lyon,  Nathaniel  B.  .  .  .  196 
McBride,  Samuel  .  .  108,  206 
McCandlass,  Alex.,  62,  66, 

104,   190 

McCarrell,  J.  J.,    103,    109, 

208,    210 

McClane,  W.  W.    .    .  129,  205 

McCleary,  Wm 124 

McClellandtown        Church 

134—139 

McClintock,   John,  68,   70, 

.  .  .  71,  79,  112,  194,  210 
McClintock,  John  C.  .  .  .  200 
McDougall,  James .  .  .  .  192 
McFarren,  Samuel ....  191 
McGarraugh,  Robert.  .  .187 
McGaughey,  A.  .  .  .65,  198 
McGogney,  A.  Z.  .  .  132,  208 
McGogney,  Mrs.  A.  Z.  .  .181 
McGrady,  James  .  .  .  .184 
McKaig,  C.  v.,  D.  D.    .    .     23 

McKallip,  J.  H 108 

McKee,  C.  L.  V 211 

McKee,  J.  B.  .  .  30,  112,  194 
McKeesport  Church,  103 — i  lO 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 


227 


McLane,  James 187 

McLain,   VV.  W.,   140,  142, 

H9.   193 

McMaster,  H.  H.  25,  27,  29,  208 
McMichael,  Wm.  .  .  .22,  75 
McMillan,  John,   D.  D.,  4, 

.  .  6,  8,  II,  14,  15,  61.  72 
McMillan,  John.  D.  D.,  20, 

.  35,  36,  150,  158.  163,  203 
McMillan,   Mrs.  John    .    .175 

Mahan,  Samuel 185 

Marquis,  Thomas  .    .    .    .185 

Marquis,  R.  R 171 

Marshall,  Robert  .  .  .  Ji,  184 
Martin,  James  .  .  .  .57,  199 
Martin,   Thomas,    90,    128, 

........     156,  193 

Martin,  Charles 194 

Martin,  John  W.  .    .156,  204 

Mateer,  Joseph 197 

Mearns,  John  A.  .  .  .  64,  197 
Meloy,  John    C,   91,    144, 

147,  205,  210 

Mercer,  Boyd.  74,  103,  127,  185 

Mercer,  Simon  B 123 

MilhoUand,  A.   S.,    D.   D., 

.    .    1 14,  129,  141,  207,  210 

Miller,  O.  H 146,  201 

Milligan,  Wm.  V.,  D.  D.  .  22 
Ministers,  Early  ....  3 
Missionary,  Early  ....  2 
Montgomery,   Samuel,    35, 

149.  193 

Moore,  Thomas 185 

Moore,  Wm.  D.,  63,  65,66,  195 
Moore,  Wm.  P.,  23, 66,  1 32,  206 

Moore,  James  R 198 

Moore,  Robert  B 199 

Moorehead,  Wm 186 

Moorhead,  W.  W.,  D.  D.,  .  23 
Morledge,  H.  C,   173,   174, 

209,  210 

Mt.  Pleasant  Church,  4,  19, 

•    •    .    • 34—37 


Mt.    Pleasant   Reunion   Ch. 

163 — 166 

Mt.  Vernon  Church.  153 — 154 
Mt.    Washington     Church. 

141  — 144.  21 1 

Muddy  Creek  Church  .  71,  72 
Myers.  B.  F.   .    .    .  93.  96,  200 

Neel.  John  J 196 

Nesbit,  Charles.  D.  D.  .  .  42 
Nevin,  Wm.  G.,  27.  31.  60, 

129,  158,  206 

New  and  Old   School,    19, 

35.81 

New     Providence    Church, 

68,  71—84 

New  Salem 28 

Niccolls,  Samuel  J.,  D.  D.,  199 

Oliphant.  F.  H 155 

Owen,  Griffith  .  .  .119,  196 
Owens,  John  D.  .  .  .  32,  208 
Parke,  Thomas  S.,  53,  172,  203 

Parker,  John 25 

Parsonages 32,  51 

Patterson,  Joseph,  7,  8,  73,  184 
Patterson,  Robert     .    .  16,  188 
Patterson,  A.  O.,  D.  D.,  16, 
20,  30,  34,  144,  146,  148,  190 

Patterson.  J.  G 200 

PauU,    George,    200,    211, 

215.  219 

Paull,  Joseph  .    .  167,  211,  219 

Pentzer,  Jacob 193 

Perkins,  Wm 102 

Personal  Sketches  .  .  .  .211 
Pigeon  Creek  Church  .  .  4 
Pitt  Township  Church  .  .  103 
Pleasant  Unity  Church.  19, 

148 — 152 

Plumer,  Hon.  George     .    .  145 

Plumer,  George 193 

Plumer,  Alexander     .    .    .145 

Plumer,  John  C 145 

Plumer,  Miss  Ruth  P3.,  now 
Mrs.  J.  K.  Andrews   .    .182 


228 


PRESBYTERY    OF     REDSTONE. 


Plumer,  John  S 203 

Porter,  Samuel .  .  16,  184,  188 
Porter,  Samuel,  Jr.  .  .188 
Porter,  Rev.  Mr.  .    .    .  35,  147 

Porter,  George 134 

Potter,  G.  M 169 

Power,  James,  D.  D.,  3,   16, 
25,29,34,39,72,84,114,  183 

Power,  Francis  H 198 

Price,  R.  T 169,  205 

Presbytery  of  Blairsville  .  19 
Presbytery  of  Donegal  .  ,  3 
Presbytery  of  Erie  ...  8 
Presbytery  of  New  Castle,  3 
Presbytery  of  New  York  .  5 
Presbytery  of  Ohio  .  .6,8,  y^i 
Presbytery  of  Washington,  5 
Presbytery  of  West  Virginia,  20 
Presbytery  of  Redstone — 
Boundaries  .    .    .  18,   19,  73 

Centennial 21 

Early  Settlements   ...       i 

First  Records 6 

First  Meetings    ....       6 

Members 9,  20 

Organization     .    .    .    .  i,     5 

Name i 

Pioneer  Education  ...     10 
Presbyteries   now  in  for- 
mer bounds     ....     23 
Professorship  of  Elocution,  23 
Professorship  of  Elocution, 
Committee    to    Superin- 
tend   23 

Quillen,  Ezekiel 193 

Ralston,  W.  W.,  D.  D.,  1 19,  202 
Ralston,  Samuel     .    .    .    .186 

Rea,  John,  Sr yy 

Redick,  William 142 

Redstone,    Centennial    of.     21 
Redstone,  Members  of .    .     20 
Redstone,  Organi;>ation  of,     5 
Redstone,  Centennial  Schol- 
arship   23 


Redstone  in  Organization  of 

Three  Synods  ....  8 
Redstone,  Origin  of  Name,  i 
Redstone  Thank   Offerings,  23 

Reed,  Wm 195 

Reed,  John 16,  189 

Reed,  John  B 23,  210 

Rehoboth  Church    .  3,  58 — 60 
Revivals,   9,   10,   16,  30,  39, 
53.  58.  73.  83,    100,    103, 

106,  138,  169 

Riggs,  Cyrus,  D.  D.  .  31,  197 
Robinson,  Col.  James  .  .155 
Robinson,  E.  S.  .  .  .159,  208 
Robinson,  Wm.  M.  ...  22 
Rogers,    D.    B.,    102,    113, 

156,  171.  203 

Rosborough,  H.  O.,  20,  84, 
88,    113,    140,    141,   144, 

198,  210,  212 

Ross,  John  ....  92,95,  189 
Round  Hill  Church,  3,  55 — 57 
Ruble,  Jacob.  32,  141,  205,  210 
Ruble,  Wm.  Rhodes  .    .    .  207 

Russell,  Watson 109 

Ryland,  H.  H 211 

Sample,  J.  Logan  .    .    .57,  201 

Schools II 

Scott,  George  K.  .  .  .31,  204 
Scott,  John  W.,   D.   D.,  69, 

205,  210 

Scott,  George    .    .    .    .91,  202 

Scott,  Harr}^  0 207 

Scott,  Winfield  C 206 

Scottdale  Church  .  .  158 — 160 
Scovel,  S.  F.,  D.  D.  .  .  .  22 
Sewickley  Church  .  4,  29,  34 
Shanks,  J,  D.  .  .59,  154,  207 
Shaw,  Mrs.  Mary  .  .  .  .179 
Shearer,  F.  A.,  D.  D.,  64,  197 
Shepherd,  George  C.  .    .    .  200 

Sherrard,  D.  A.  C 45 

Skiles,  Samuel  P 195 

Sloan,  Wm.  N.   .    .    .    .    .  204 


PRESBYTERY    OF    REDSTONE. 


229 


Smith,  David,  56,  58,  87,  98, 

185 

Smith,  Joseph,  D.  D.  .  57,  197 
Smith,  John  M.  .  .75,  79,  192 
Smith,  Robert  F.,  148,  151, 

209,   210 

Smith,  Jesse 190 

Smith,  Wm.  C 195 

Smith,  Joseph  .  .  .  .  5,  183 
Smythe,  Anson,  D.  D.  .  .  22 
Somerset  Church,  19,  91  — 

94,  211 

South  Fork  of  Ten  Mile  .  68 
Sparks,  Samue!  .  .  .  35,  150 
Speer,  WilHam  ....  16,  187 

Speer,  L.  M 161 

Speer,  Thomas  P 198 

Spring  Hill  Furnace  Ch  140,21 1 
Statistical   Reports,    17,   18, 

23,  166,  179 

Steele,  Robert 9-  187 

Stockton,  Joseph  .    .  8,  16,  188 
Stoneroad,  Joel   20,  37,  43, 
47,  53,  112,  116,  144,  192, 

211,213 

Stoneroad  Chapel  ....  50 
Stevenson,  Ross,  D.  D.  132,  195 
Stevenson,  J.  H.  31,  53,  90, 

....  128,  159,  172,  201 
Stevenson,  Daniel  ....  78 
Stewart,  Robert  C  .  .  .  .198 
Stewart,  W.  G.    .171,  209.  2 1  o 

Stratton,  Wm.  0 22 

Swan,  Wm.    16,  30,  61,  66,  185 

Swan,  Samuel 190 

Swan,  Charles 78 

Swift,  E.  P.,  D.  D.  .  .  16,  189 
Synod  of — 

N.  Y.  and  New  Jersey  .  6 
N.  Y.  and  Philadelphia  2,  5,  6 
Pittsburgh  .  8,  13,  21,  22,  74 

Philadelphia 6 

The  Carolinas 6 

Virginia  .    .    .    .  6,  8,  13,  14 


Tate,  Samuel 8 

Taylor,  Z.  B.  .    .  159,  209,  210 

Temperance 81,  77 

Tent  Church  ....  97 — 103 
Terry,  S.  Howell  .  92,  95,  192 
Thank  Offerings  .  .  .  23,  182 
Thanksgiving  Sermon,  ist,  2 
Thompson,  Hon.  J.  M.,  123, 

211,  220 

Torrence,  Adam  .  .  .  22,  191 
Torrence,  Joseph  ....  45 
Trunkey,  Hon.  John  ...     22 

Turbitt,  John 293 

Tyrone  Church  .  .  .  52 — 55 
Uniontown  Church  .  114 — 127 

Vance,  James no 

Van  Eman,  George,  16,  74, 

134,  191 

Veech,  Hon.  James  .  .  71,  76 
Veech,  David  ....  ']6,  123 
Wakefield,  C.  B.  93,  96,  141, 

144,  156,  206 

Wallace,  J.  B 211 

Wallace,  R.  M. .  .  90,  128,  197 
Washington  College  ...     12 

Watt,  Thomas  W 167 

West,  Nathanael,  Sr.  .  105,  197 
West,  Nathanael,  Jr.  .  .  .105 
Western  M.  Society  ...  13 
Western  Theological  Sem  .  23 
West  Newton  Ch.31,  144 — 148 

Welty,  F.  B 200 

Wheeler, .    .    .    .133 

White.  N.  G.  53,    133,   172, 

208,  210 

White,  Robert     .    .    .150,  206 

White  Rock 133 

Wick,  William 8 

Wightman,  J.  W.,  D.  D.  107,204 
Williams,  Moses  Allen  117,  196 
Williams  Daniel  .    .    ,  146,  198 

Wilson,  Alex.  C 205 

Wilson,  Robert  F  .  .  106,  199 
Wilson,  James 192 


230 


PRESBYTERY     OF    REDSTONE. 


Wilson,  Joseph  R  .  .  .  .  202 
Wilson,  S.  J.,  D.  D.,  L.L.  D  22 
Wilson.  Samuel,  D.  D.,   20, 

.    26,  88,  134,  135,  194,  215 
Wishart,  Marcus  .    .    .59,  205 
Woman's  Missionary  Socie- 
ties, 52,   70,  82,  107,  108, 
133,  152,  164,    174—179, 

180—182 

Woman's    F.    M.    Society, 

108,  174 — 179 

Woman's    F,    M.    Society, 


Officers  of.  .  .  .  176 — 178 
Woman's    H.    M.    Society, 

Officers  of  .  .  180,  i8i,  182 
Woodend,  Wm.  W.    .    .    .195 

Woods,  Wm 186 

Wright,  John 186 

Wright,  W.  S 107 

Wylie,W.  T.,D.  D.,  16,  56, 

58.99.  114,  187 

Wylie,  Mrs.  W.  T 116 

Wycoff,  Rev.  Mr.   .    .  102,  155 


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